Dermatology (Greek derma – skin, logos – doctrine, literally “the doctrine of the skin”) is a medical discipline, the objects of study of which are the skin, its appendages (hair, nails, sebaceous and sweat glands), mucous membranes, their structure and functioning, as well as diseases and diagnosis, prevention and treatment. Within dermatology as a medical science, there are special clinical sections that study individual diseases and their treatment (mycology, trichology). Dermatology is closely connected with venereology, cosmetology, allergology and other medical disciplines.

The skin is part of the integral structure of the body and is the largest human organ visible to the eye. It, as an indicator, reflects the state of all organs and systems of the body, protects them from mechanical damage and infection. As a rule, skin diseases indicate any violation of the functions of internal organs, unhealthy habits and lifestyle of the patient. Skin diseases, in turn, can lead to serious consequences for the body as a whole if their treatment is not started in a timely manner.

The features of the structure of the skin, the diversity of its functions and the impact of a large number of internal and external factors cause a variety of skin diseases, or dermatoses.

The impact of external, or exogenous, factors is very diverse. Physical and chemical agents cause inflammatory changes – dermatitis (burns, scuffs, diaper rash, etc.). Biological factors lead to fungal skin lesions – mycoses (epidermophytia, microsporia), pustular diseases – pyoderma (impetigo, furunculosis, hydradenitis), parasitic invasions (pediculosis, scabies), viral skin lesions (herpes, warts).

An important role in the occurrence of skin diseases is played by internal, or endogenous, factors: these are diseases of internal organs, chronic foci of infection, metabolic disorders, hypovitaminosis, disorders of the functions of the nervous system. All these factors can cause various pathological processes in the skin and its appendages, mucous membranes: inflammation, hemorrhages, pigmentation changes and even the death of individual skin structures (hair follicles, connective tissue fibers, etc.).

When the first signs of skin diseases appear (such as itching, burning, soreness, discoloration and relief of the skin, skin rashes), you should consult a dermatologist. An experienced doctor can make the correct diagnosis already at the first careful examination of the skin and careful collection of the patient’s life history. To clarify or confirm the diagnosis in dermatology, additional methods of examination of the skin, mucous membranes, hair, nails are widely used: instrumental, laboratory, radiological, special skin tests, etc.

Treatment of skin diseases requires patient patience and strict adherence to the treatment algorithm. An important role in the successful treatment is played by hygienic care of the affected skin, compliance with diet and drug therapy regimen. Medical treatment can be general and local. Physiotherapy and hardware procedures, psychotherapy, spa treatment, phytotherapy, homeopathy are widely used in dermatological practice. In some cases, in the absence of a clinical effect from conservative treatment, surgical intervention or the involvement of narrow specialists is indicated. Most often, the treatment is complex and combines several different methods at once. Today, with the help of the latest therapeutic and diagnostic techniques, dermatology allows to achieve the cure of such diseases that were considered incurable until quite recently.

Skin diseases are among the most common human diseases, and almost everyone faces one or another of their manifestations in their lifetime. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), over 20% of the world’s population suffers from skin diseases.

Many dermatoses have a chronic recurrent course and are difficult to treat. The most common are dermatitis of various genesis, eczema, fungal diseases, acne, skin warts, herpes simplex, psoriasis, skin cancer.

Modern dermatology pays great attention to the restoration of skin health, the study of the mechanisms of age-related and pathological changes in the skin, nails and hair, the treatment of oncological diseases, the search for new methods of diagnosis and treatment.

With the website “Medic Journal” you will always be aware of the most up-to-date information about skin diseases and methods of their treatment.

Bromhidrosis

Bromhidrosis is an unpleasant smell of sweat that usually occurs with excessive sweating due to insufficient compliance with the rules of personal hygiene. On the other hand, bromhidrosis can be caused by the release of various substances with sweat in case of metabolic disorders, the functioning of the urinary system or the gastrointestinal tract. In…

Onychomycosis

Onychomycosis is infection of toenails and hands by representatives of various classes of pathogenic and conditionally pathogenic fungal microflora. The clinical picture of onychomycosis depends on the cause that caused the mycosis. The nails affected by the fungus change color and transparency, lose smoothness, thicken, become brittle and rough, delaminate, begin to crumble. At the…

Onycholysis

Onycholysis is the most common type of acquired onychodystrophy, characterized by a violation of the connection between the nail and the nail bed while preserving the matrix. Clinically manifested by the inability of the nail plate to grow to the nail bed when separating the nail from the distal edge. With non-infectious onycholysis, the nail…

Onychodystrophy

Onychodystrophy is a change in the structure, shape, and color of nails due to abnormally occurring trophic processes, congenital or acquired. Visually, the pathology is manifested by turbidity, thinning of the nail plates, signs of transverse or longitudinal stratification, roughness, peeling, the appearance of furrows and pinpoint indentations, partial or complete destruction of the nail.…

Onychogryphosis

Onychogryphosis is a type of onychodystrophy characterized by deformation of the nail plate in the form of a griffin’s claw. Clinically, onychogrifosis is divided into two stages. The early one manifests itself in thickening of the nail, changing its transparency, staining in dirty yellow tones, curvature of the nail plate, often with ingrowth into the…

Hogweed Burns

Hogweed burns are skin lesions resulting from contact with a poisonous plant. After touching the hogweed under the influence of ultraviolet light, itchy erythema appears on the skin, and after a while burn blisters form. When inhaling essential oils, there is a sharp weakness, dizziness, fainting. Burns are diagnosed on the basis of anamnesis and…

Skin Neoplasms

Skin neoplasms are benign or malignant tumor lesions of the skin as a result of pathological proliferation of tissue cells. Benign neoplasms include warts, moles, papillomas, lipomas, angiomas, adenomas, etc. Malignant – melanoma, sarcoma, epithelioma. A special group consists of precancerous skin tumors: leukoplakia, cutaneous horn, senile keratoma, etc. Most of the skin neoplasms should…

Filiform Warts

Filiform warts is an elongated formation of elastic consistency with a size of 5-6 mm. It occurs on the skin of the face and neck, under the mammary glands and in the armpits. Filiform warts are caused by the human papillomavirus and tend to spread to neighboring areas of the body. Diagnosis is based on the…

Neurofibromatosis Type 1

Neurofibromatosis type 1 is a disease based on the development of tumors (neurofibromas) from nervous tissue, both in the central nervous system and on peripheral nerves. The symptoms depend on the location of the tumors. The earliest and most typical sign of the disease are pigmented spots larger than 1.5 cm. Diagnosis is carried out…

Neurodermatitis

Neurodermatitis is a skin disease of a neurogenic-allergic nature (neuroallergodermatosis), which has a chronic recurrent course. Neurodermatitis is characterized by wet skin rashes, attacks of severe itching, combing, followed by the formation of crusts, pigmentation and thickening of the skin on the affected areas. Disease is diagnosed on the basis of dermatological examination, determination of…