Skin disorders vary widely in terms of symptoms and severity. They can be temporary or permanent and also painless or painful. Some have situational causes, while others can be due to genetic disorders.
While most skin disorders are minor, others can be a more serious problem. Contact your doctor if you think you have any of these common skin problems.
Photos of different skin disorders
There are many types of skin disorders. Here is a list of 13 with photos.
Acne
- Commonly located on the chest, face, neck, shoulders and upper back
- Rash consisting of blackheads, pimples, whiteheads, or deep, painful cysts and nodules
- May scarring or darken the skin if left untreated
Genital herpes
- Painful, red, fluid-filled blister that commonly appears near the lips and mouth
- The affected area will often sting or burn before the sore is visible
- Outbreaks can also be accompanied by mild flu-like symptoms such as low fever, body aches and swollen lymph nodes.
Blister
- Characterized by a clear, fluid-filled, watery area on the skin
- May be less than 1 cm (vesicle) or greater than 1 cm (bubble) and occur singly or in groups
- Can be found anywhere on the body
Urticaria
- Itching and raised marks that occur after an allergen exposure
- Red, warm and slightly painful to the touch
- Can be large and randomly shaped or small, round and ring-shaped
Actinic keratosis
- Usually less than 2cm or about the size of a pencil eraser
- Thick, scaly, or crusty patch of skin
- Appears on parts of the body strongly exposed to the sun (hands, arms, face, scalp and neck)
- Usually pink in color, but may have a brown, beige or gray base
Rosacea
- Chronic skin disease that goes through discoloration cycles and relapse
- Relapses can be triggered by spicy foods, alcoholic drinks, sunlight, stress, and gut bacteria Helicobacter pylori
- Rosacea have four subtypes encompassing a wide variety of symptoms.
- Common symptoms include facial flushing, raised red bumps, facial flushing, dry skin, and skin tenderness.
Anthrax
- Red, painful and irritated lump under the skin
- May be accompanied by body aches, fatigue and fever
- May cause scabs or oozing of the skin
Latex allergy
This condition is considered a medical emergency. Urgent care may be needed.
- A rash can occur a few minutes to a few hours after exposure to a latex product
- Warm, itchy red papules at the contact site that may take on a dry, crusty appearance with repeated exposure to latex
- Airborne latex particles can cause coughing, runny nose, sneezing and itching and watery eyes.
- A severe latex allergy can cause swelling and difficulty breathing
Eczema
- Scaly yellow or white spots that flake off
- Affected areas may be itchy, oily, or red
- Hair loss can occur in the area with the rash
Psoriasis
- Scaly, silvery, sharply defined patches of skin
- It is located commonly on the elbows, knees, lower back and scalp
- May be itchy or asymptomatic
Cellulite
This condition is considered a medical emergency. Urgent care may be needed.
- Caused by bacteria or fungi entering through a skin crack or cut
- Red, sore, swollen skin with or without oozing that spreads fastly
- Warm and tender to the touch
- Fever, chills, and red streaks from the rash may be signs of a serious infection requiring medical attention
Measles
- A red rash spreads from the face to the body three to five days after the first symptoms appear
- Inside the mouth, tiny red spots with blue-white centers appear
Basal cell carcinoma
- Raised, firm, pale areas that may look like a scar
- Domed, pink or red, shiny and pearly areas that may have a sunken center, such as a crater
- Blood vessels visible on growth
- Wound that bleeds or oozes easily that does not seem to heal, or heals and then comes back
