What Are Keloid Scars?

A wound usually leaves a scar following its healing process. A keloid is also a kind of scar. Keloid scars grow too much and usually become larger compared to the original wound. They are characterised by hard nodules with smooth surfaces because of excessive production of a protein called collagen. Keloids may occur spontaneously or follow a skin trauma or surgery. They are generally itchy.

Sometimes, scars can achieve a little lumpy appearance. This process is known as hypertrophy.

Impetigo: A Skin Infection

Impetigo, which is a superficial skin infection, usually occurs due to  bacteria called Staphylococcus aureus. It is the most prevalent skin infection among young children. Impetigo is a highly infectious skin condition and is also more common in children compared to adults. Sometimes, it occurs due to Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogens, or a mixture of the two bacteria. Impetigo is common in individuals in hot climates. It rapidly spreads from person to person by direct skin contact or less frequently, by clothing and towels or bedding. It easily passes among family members and school mates. The name ‘scrum fox’ describes the impetigo spread among rugby players. Occasionally, impetigo appears without an apparent origin.

Hirsutism: An Embarrassing Condition

The extent of normal hair growth differs between people, families, and races. It is somewhat extensive in the Mediterranean and some Asian subcontinent populations. Too much facial or body hair growth in a woman is known as hirsutism. There is no absolute margin between the normal hair growth and hirsutism.

Usually, sex hormones affect the hair growth in the moustache, beard, breast, chest, armpit, the midline of the abdomen, genital area, and the thighs. A type of soft hair (vellus hair), which is normally present all over the body, is not affected by the sex hormones. If a woman has excess hair growth over the regions, which contain the sex-hormone dependent hair, it shows increased male hormone (androgen) production in the ovaries and adrenal glands. This process commonly occurs due to polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) but occasionally other rarer conditions. Other conditions include an abnormal growth of adrenal glands (congenital adrenal hyperplasia), Cushing’s syndrome, and tumours of the ovary and the adrenal gland.

Herpes Simplex Skin Infection

Herpes simplex is a virus, which causes a skin infection. It spreads from person to person by direct skin, sexual, or mouth contacts. There are two types of herpes simplex viruses (HSV). They are HSV type 1 and HSV type 2.

HSV type 1 is spread by direct contact and contaminated droplets. Most people achieve HSV type 1 in early childhood. However, the infection usually occurs without symptoms. Occasionally, it leads to fever with either clusters of painful blisters on the face or an inflammation and aching blisters in the mouth, including the gums (Gingivostomatitis). The fever is usually self-limiting.

HSV type 2 infections take place generally following puberty and normally affect the genital region. These infections are usually with no symptoms and transmitted sexually. However, HSV type 1 infection occurs in the genital area due to oral sex.

Facts About Vitiligo

Vitiligo is a common condition, which affects about one per cent of people. Some areas of the skin lose the normal pigment (depigmentation) and become white. It occurs due to loss of melanocytes in the affected areas. Melanocytes are cells, which are in the skin and produce the pigment known as melanin. This pigment gives the skin its normal colour. Vitiligo is an autoimmune disease. Sometimes, the immune system of your body may produce antibodies against the melanocytes. Therefore, these antibodies destroy the melanocytes in some areas of the skin. Then, the skin cannot sufficiently produce melanin.

Vitiligo occurs in women and men from all races evenly. However, it can be easily identified in individuals with dark skins. Vitiligo can affect people of any age. However, about 50 % of the patients get it before 20 years. It doesn’t spread to others. About 20 % of individuals with vitiligo have a family member with the same disease. The exact mechanism of inheritance has not been recognised yet. If a person has vitiligo, it doesn’t mean that his or her kids are going to have it too. There is no association between vitiligo and your diet.

Eczema with an Unusual Distribution (Contact Dermatitis)

Usually, dermatitis or eczema implies an inflammatory condition of the skin. Sometimes, it may be in an unusual or localised distribution. Then, it is known as contact dermatitis or contact eczema. This particular condition occurs due to an exposure to something in the surroundings.

If you have a dermatitis and have no family or personal history of atopic disease, one of the environmental agents may be the probable cause. These agents can be allergens (causing allergic reaction or hypersensitivity) or irritants (causing direct irritation) in your environment.

Alopecia Areata: Another Type of Hair Loss

Alopecia areata is a common cause for hair loss and may be immune-mediated. The immune system doesn’t identify the hair follicles (roots) as own and consider them as foreign substances in affected people (autoimmunity). The process of alopecia areata and regrowth of hairs are poorly understood. It is linked with some other autoimmune diseases like vitiligo (white areas of the skin), diabetes mellitus, and thyroid disease. People with alopecia areata are more prone to have these disorders, although the risk of developing those diseases is low. The health-care professional may offer a blood test for antibodies, which may predict whether an affected individual is prone to develop pernicious anaemia or thyroid diseases.

Male Pattern Baldness (Androgenic Alopecia)

Hair loss (alopecia) is a common problem. It occurs due to a disorder of the hair follicle in which the scalp skin appears normal (non-scarring alopecia) or due to a problem within the scalp skin, which leads to permanent loss of the hair follicle (scarring or cicatricial alopecia). Scarring alopecia causes shiny atrophic bald areas in the scalp skin. These areas are lack of hair follicles.