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.
Sunburn is a redness of the skin caused by its defeat by sunlight. The condition is caused by the action of the ultraviolet radiation spectrum and can develop not only when exposed to the sun, but also artificial sources of ultraviolet light. Sunburn is manifested by hyperemia of skin areas that have been exposed to radiation.…
Complex pigment nevus is a benign brown pigment formation located simultaneously in the epidermal layer of the skin and the dermis. A complex nevus has the appearance of a rounded papule or wart with a diameter of up to 1 cm, rising above the skin level. His diagnosis includes examination, dermatoscopy and sciascopy, if necessary…
Scleroderma is a disease from the group of systemic connective tissue diseases, which is characterized by microcirculation disorders, inflammation, fibrosis. Patients have dense swelling and induration of the skin of the face, fingers, sometimes hands, feet, trunk. Fingers lose mobility, joint contractures develop, the face acquires a mask-like appearance. With the systemic nature of the…
Lichen sclerosus is a dermatological disease of unclear etiology, in which atrophy of various skin areas is observed, mainly in the genital area, less often in other regions of the body. A symptom of this condition is the formation of light, almost white plaques and papules around the genitals, occasionally on the neck and near…
Scleredema is a rare scleroderm-like disease characterized by indurative-fibrous changes in the skin. Clinically manifested by thickening, compaction of the skin of the face, neck, upper torso, leading to limited movement. The diagnosis is made on the basis of histological examination of the affected area of the skin. In some cases, treatment is not required,…
Cutis verticis gyrata is a disease of the scalp characterized by hypertrophy of the dermis with the formation of folds and furrows. The skin of the CVG is sharply thickened and compacted, visually resembles the convolutions of the brain or the scalp of a bulldog. Cracks, lichenization, pigmentation may occur in the area of altered…
Squamous epidermophyton is one of the forms of fungal lesions of the palms or feet caused by the fungus Trichophyton mentagrophytes and characterized by moderate inflammation with signs of hyperkeratosis. Symptoms of this disease are the formation of plaques 1-4 centimeters in size on the skin of the feet or palms, hyperkeratosis and moderate itching. In…
Syringoma is one of the forms of damage to the sweat glands, having a benign tumor nature, some researchers consider it as a developmental defect (a variant of hamartoma). Symptoms of this dermatological condition are small nodules of a light or yellow hue on the skin of the face, lower eyelid, chest, occasionally in the…
Stevens-Johnson syndrome is an acute bullous lesion of the mucous membranes and skin of an allergic nature. It occurs against the background of a serious condition of the patient with the involvement of the oral mucosa, eyes and genitourinary organs. The diagnosis of Stevens-Johnson syndrome includes a thorough examination of the patient, an immunological blood…
Sezary syndrome is a malignant skin lesion caused by tumor transformation of T—lymphocytes and manifested by a triad of typical clinical signs: erythroderma, lymphadenopathy and the presence of specific cells in the blood with folded nuclei. The diagnosis is established on the basis of a characteristic clinical picture, taking into account the data of a…
