Skin Conditions

On this page

Summary

Your skin is your body's largest organ. It covers and protects your body. Your skin

Holds body fluids in, preventing dehydration
Keeps harmful microbes out, preventing infections
Helps you feel things like heat, cold, and pain
Keeps your body temperature even
Makes vitamin D when the sun shines on it

Anything that irritates, clogs, or inflames your skin can cause symptoms such as redness, swelling, burning, and itching. Allergies, irritants, your genetic makeup, and certain diseases and immune system problems can cause rashes, hives, and other skin conditions. Many skin problems, such as acne, also affect your appearance.

NIH: National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases

Start Here

Skin Condition Finder (Logical Images)
Skin Rashes and Other Problems (American Academy of Family Physicians) Also in Spanish
Skin, Hair, and Nails (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish

Latest News

Scientists Spot Genetic Clues to Disfiguring 'Fish Scale' Disease (06/01/2017, HealthDay)

Diagnosis and Tests

Biopsy (American Osteopathic College of Dermatology)
Skin Rashes and Other Problems (American Academy of Family Physicians) Also in Spanish
Wood's Lamp Examination (Logical Images)

Prevention and Risk Factors

How to Prevent Skin Conditions in Athletes (American Academy of Dermatology)
Keep Your Skin Healthy: Protecting Your Outer Self (National Institutes of Health)
Skin Problems: How to Protect Yourself from Job-Related Skin Problems (American Academy of Family Physicians) Also in Spanish

Treatments and Therapies

Cryosurgery (Logical Images)
Dermatology Procedures (American Osteopathic College of Dermatology)
Electrodesiccation (Logical Images)
Laser Therapy (American Society for Dermatologic Surgery)
Skin graft - slideshow (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
Treatment Options for Actinic Keratosis (National Cancer Institute)

Living With

Dry Skin Relief (American Academy of Dermatology)

Related Issues

Skin Problems in Construction (Center to Protect Workers' Rights) - PDF

Specifics

Dermatitis Herpetiformis (American Osteopathic College of Dermatology)
Dermatographia (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
Dry Skin (Xerosis) (American Academy of Dermatology)
Epidermolysis Bullosa (National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases)
Ichthyosis (National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases)
Lichen Nitidus (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
Lichen Striatus (American Osteopathic College of Dermatology)
Morgellons Disease: Managing a Mysterious Skin Condition (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
Pityriasis Rosea (American Academy of Dermatology)
Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
What Is Epidermolysis Bullosa? (National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases) Also in Spanish
What Is Lichen Sclerosus? (National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases) Also in Spanish

Genetics

Genetics Home Reference: acral peeling skin syndrome (National Library of Medicine)
Genetics Home Reference: Adams-Oliver syndrome (National Library of Medicine)
Genetics Home Reference: adermatoglyphia (National Library of Medicine)
Genetics Home Reference: ankyloblepharon-ectodermal defects-cleft lip/palate syndrome (National Library of Medicine)
Genetics Home Reference: autosomal dominant hyper-IgE syndrome (National Library of Medicine)
Genetics Home Reference: Bart-Pumphrey syndrome (National Library of Medicine)
Genetics Home Reference: Birt-Hogg-Dubé syndrome (National Library of Medicine)
Genetics Home Reference: Blau syndrome (National Library of Medicine)
Genetics Home Reference: Brooke-Spiegler syndrome (National Library of Medicine)
Genetics Home Reference: cardiofaciocutaneous syndrome (National Library of Medicine)
Genetics Home Reference: Clouston syndrome (National Library of Medicine)
Genetics Home Reference: Cole disease (National Library of Medicine)
Genetics Home Reference: congenital hemidysplasia with ichthyosiform erythroderma and limb defects (National Library of Medicine)
Genetics Home Reference: Costello syndrome (National Library of Medicine)
Genetics Home Reference: Darier disease (National Library of Medicine)
Genetics Home Reference: dyskeratosis congenita (National Library of Medicine)
Genetics Home Reference: dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (National Library of Medicine)
Genetics Home Reference: epidermal nevus (National Library of Medicine)
Genetics Home Reference: epidermolysis bullosa simplex (National Library of Medicine)
Genetics Home Reference: epidermolysis bullosa with pyloric atresia (National Library of Medicine)
Genetics Home Reference: epidermolytic hyperkeratosis (National Library of Medicine)
Genetics Home Reference: erythrokeratodermia variabilis et progressiva (National Library of Medicine)
Genetics Home Reference: familial cylindromatosis (National Library of Medicine)
Genetics Home Reference: familial pityriasis rubra pilaris (National Library of Medicine)
Genetics Home Reference: focal dermal hypoplasia (National Library of Medicine)
Genetics Home Reference: harlequin ichthyosis (National Library of Medicine)
Genetics Home Reference: hereditary fibrosing poikiloderma with tendon contractures, myopathy, and pulmonary fibrosis (National Library of Medicine)
Genetics Home Reference: hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia (National Library of Medicine)
Genetics Home Reference: hystrix-like ichthyosis with deafness (National Library of Medicine)
Genetics Home Reference: ichthyosis with confetti (National Library of Medicine)
Genetics Home Reference: incontinentia pigmenti (National Library of Medicine)
Genetics Home Reference: infantile systemic hyalinosis (National Library of Medicine)
Genetics Home Reference: junctional epidermolysis bullosa (National Library of Medicine)
Genetics Home Reference: juvenile hyaline fibromatosis (National Library of Medicine)
Genetics Home Reference: keratitis-ichthyosis-deafness syndrome (National Library of Medicine)
Genetics Home Reference: keratoderma with woolly hair (National Library of Medicine)
Genetics Home Reference: lamellar ichthyosis (National Library of Medicine)
Genetics Home Reference: laryngo-onycho-cutaneous syndrome (National Library of Medicine)
Genetics Home Reference: lipoid proteinosis (National Library of Medicine)
Genetics Home Reference: Majeed syndrome (National Library of Medicine)
Genetics Home Reference: microphthalmia with linear skin defects syndrome (National Library of Medicine)
Genetics Home Reference: multiple cutaneous and mucosal venous malformations (National Library of Medicine)
Genetics Home Reference: multiple familial trichoepithelioma (National Library of Medicine)
Genetics Home Reference: multiple pterygium syndrome (National Library of Medicine)
Genetics Home Reference: Naegeli-Franceschetti-Jadassohn syndrome/dermatopathia pigmentosa reticularis (National Library of Medicine)
Genetics Home Reference: Nakajo-Nishimura syndrome (National Library of Medicine)
Genetics Home Reference: Netherton syndrome (National Library of Medicine)
Genetics Home Reference: nonbullous congenital ichthyosiform erythroderma (National Library of Medicine)
Genetics Home Reference: nonsyndromic aplasia cutis congenita (National Library of Medicine)
Genetics Home Reference: pachyonychia congenita (National Library of Medicine)
Genetics Home Reference: palmoplantar keratoderma with deafness (National Library of Medicine)
Genetics Home Reference: primary localized cutaneous amyloidosis (National Library of Medicine)
Genetics Home Reference: Rothmund-Thomson syndrome (National Library of Medicine)
Genetics Home Reference: scalp-ear-nipple syndrome (National Library of Medicine)
Genetics Home Reference: Sjögren-Larsson syndrome (National Library of Medicine)
Genetics Home Reference: steatocystoma multiplex (National Library of Medicine)
Genetics Home Reference: Stevens-Johnson syndrome/toxic epidermal necrolysis (National Library of Medicine)
Genetics Home Reference: trichothiodystrophy (National Library of Medicine)
Genetics Home Reference: UV-sensitive syndrome (National Library of Medicine)
Genetics Home Reference: Vohwinkel syndrome (National Library of Medicine)
Muir-Torre Syndrome (American Society of Clinical Oncology)

Images

Acrochordon (Skin Tag) (Logical Images)
Actinic Keratosis (Logical Images)
Capillaritis (Logical Images)
Cutaneous Horn (Logical Images)
Dermatosis Papulosa Nigra (Logical Images)
Epidermoid Cyst (Logical Images)
Erythema Nodosum (Logical Images)
Fordyce Spots (Logical Images)
Granuloma Annulare (Logical Images)
Ichthyosis Vulgaris (Logical Images)
Intertrigo (Logical Images)
Keratoacanthoma (Logical Images)
Keratosis Pilaris (Logical Images)
Lichen Planus (Logical Images)
Milia (Logical Images)
Notalgia Paresthetica (Logical Images)
Poikiloderma of Civatte (Logical Images)
Pseudofolliculitis Barbae (Logical Images)
Pyogenic Granuloma (Logical Images)
Sebaceous Hyperplasia (Logical Images)
Seborrheic Keratoses (Logical Images)
Stasis Dermatitis (Logical Images)
Striae (Stretch Marks) (Logical Images)
Syringoma (Logical Images)
Xerosis (Logical Images)

Health Check Tools

Flushing (DSHI Systems)
Lump Under the Skin (DSHI Systems)
Skin Lesion (DSHI Systems)
Skin Ulcers (DSHI Systems)

Videos and Tutorials

Components of skin (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish

Statistics and Research

Protein Replacement Therapy Shows Promise in Treating Rare Skin Disorder (National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases)

Clinical Trials

ClinicalTrials.gov: Skin Diseases (National Institutes of Health)

Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)

Reference Desk

Dermatology Terms (American Osteopathic College of Dermatology)
Skin Dictionary (American Academy of Dermatology)
Structure and Function of Your Skin (American Osteopathic College of Dermatology)

Find an Expert

American Academy of Dermatology
American Society for Dermatologic Surgery
Find a D.O. Dermatologist (American Osteopathic College of Dermatology)
Find a Dermatologist (American Academy of Dermatology)
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Also in Spanish

Children

Erythema Toxicum Neonatorum (Logical Images)
Healthy Skin Matters (National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases)
Splinters and Other Foreign Bodies in the Skin (American Academy of Pediatrics) Also in Spanish
Taking Care of Your Skin (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
What Are Freckles? (Nemours Foundation)
Your Skin (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish

Teenagers

Cellulite (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
Pityriasis Rosea (American Academy of Pediatrics) Also in Spanish
Skin Biopsy (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish

Women

Skin Conditions during Pregnancy (American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists) - PDF Also in Spanish

Patient Handouts

Acrodermatitis (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
Cryotherapy (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
Cutaneous skin tags (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
Dry skin -- self-care (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
Erythema multiforme (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
Granuloma annulare (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
Keratosis pilaris (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
Lichen planus (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
Milia (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
Sebaceous cyst (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
Seborrheic keratosis (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
Skin lesion removal (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
Skin lesion removal-aftercare (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
Stasis dermatitis and ulcers (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish

Basics

Learn More

See, Play and Learn

Research

Resources

For You