Your skin is susceptible to a wide variety of diseases, disorders, discoloration and growths, as well as damage from the environment and aging process. To the eyes of a dermatologist, your skin serves as a kind of “window” to the rest of your body. Your skin can often times be the first indication of a serious systemic disease.
If you see something unusual on your body, something you’ve never noticed before, or some irregularity that’s persisted for any period of time – see a dermatologist – the one doctor who has special medical training to treat skin problems.
Herpes is more formally referred to as herpes simplex virus (HSV). Herpes attacks, enters, and infects cells within the tissues of our body. There are three types of herpes viruses that infect humans.
1. The varicella zoster – chicken pox is one of them.
2. HSV-1
3. HSV-2
HSV-1 is the herpes virus that is most commonly associated with infections above the waist and most particularly around the lips. These infections are referred to as “cold sores” or “fever blisters” since they most frequently flare up when someone has a cold and fever. About 20% of all herpes infections are of this type.
HSV-2 makes up about 80% of all herpes infections currently. This herpes virus is usually related to infections below the waist and particularly of the genitals.
Herpes simplex viruses are contagious. They are like other sexually transmitted diseases such as syphilis and gonorrhea, and are considered to be in the category of infectious diseases. Herpes virus can be contracted by coming in touch with active lesions through kissing, touching, genital manipulation, oral sex, all forms of sexual intercourse – with mucosal surfaces and active lesions being much of the common denominator. Herpes can occur in any area of the body, including the skin of the mouth, arms, and legs or hands, and may be found in the eyes.
Lupus is a disease in which the normal immunity of the patient is upset. The patient produces an excess of blood proteins called antibodies, and these, directly or indirectly, may cause problems in any organ in the body. Lupus, in a way, is a blood disorder. By far the largest number of lupus sufferers are young women – especially those in their teens and twenties. Most clinics throughout the world find that women sufferers outnumber men by 9:1.
The Central Illinois Chapter of the American Lupus Society meets on the first Monday of every month at Soderstrom Dermatology Center, 4909 N Glen Park Place, Peoria, IL. For more information, call 309-353-4357, write to PO Box 791, Pekin, IL 61554, or email janlupus@mymailstation.com.
Nearly everyone has moles. They can appear anywhere on the skin, alone, or in groups. They are usually brown in color and can be various sizes and shapes.
The brown color is caused by special cells that make the pigment melanin. Each mole has its own growth pattern. At first, moles are flat and brown or black in color, like a freckle. Over time, they usually enlarge and some may develop hairs. As the years pass, moles usually change slowly, becoming raised and lighter in color. Some will not change at all. Most moles will slowly disappear, seeming to fade away. Others will become raised so far from the skin that they develop a small “stalk” and eventually fall off or are rubbed off.
Recent studies have shown that certain types of moles have a higher-than-average risk of becoming cancerous. Some may
develop into a form of skin cancer known as malignant melanoma. Sunburns may increase the risk of melanoma.
Moles that appear at birth occur in about one in a hundred people. They are called congenital nevi. These moles may be more likely to develop into melanoma than moles which appear after birth. When a congenital nevus is more than eight inches in diameter, it poses the greatest risk.
Moles known as dysplasti nevi or atypical moles are larger than average (usually larger than a pencil eraser) and irregular in shape. They tend to have uneven color with dark brown centers and lighter, uneven edges. These moles tend to be hereditary. Persons with dysplastic nevi may have a greater-than-average chance of developing malignant melanoma. These people should be checked by a dermatologist to detect any changes that might indicate skin cancer.
Poison Ivy rash is really an allergic contact dermatitis caused by a substance called urushiol, found in the sap of poison ivy, poison sumac, and poison oak. You may develop a rash without ever being exposed to poison ivy, because the urushoi is so easily spread. Sticky and virtually invisible, it can be carried on the fur of animals, on garden tools, or sports equipment, or on any objects that have come into contact with a crushed or broken plant. It can be neutralized to an inactive state by water.
Once it touches the skin, the urushiol begins to penetrate in a matter of minutes. In those who are sensitive, a reaction will appear in the form of a line or streak of rash within 12-48 hours. Redness and swelling will be followed by blisters and severe itching.
Scleroderma is classified as a disease of the vascular and immune systems and a severe connective tissue disorder. It results in fibrosis (hardening) of the skin and multiple organs. Scleroderma can range from a minor skin lesion to a debilitating and fatal disease. There are two major forms of scleroderma:
1. localized
2. systemic
Localized scleroderma affects the skin, subcutaneous tissue, and occasionally muscle and bone. Systemic scleroderma strikes the esophagus and internal organs as well as the skin and is life threatening.
Soderstrom Dermatology Center, S.C. sponsors a Scleroderma support group for patients with scleroderma and family members of such patients. To contact the Central Illinois Scleroderma Support Group, call Margaret Sweborg at (309)674-8897.
Babies can be born with birthmarks that are brown, tan, blue, pink, or red. More than 10 in 100 babies have vascular birthmarks. These are made up of blood vessels bunched together in the skin. The most common types of vascular birthmarks are mascular stains, hemangiomas, and port-wine stains. New types of lasers have been shown to be effective in treating some vascular birthmarks. Such laser treatments are available at Soderstrom Dermatology Center, S.C.
Warts are caused by a viral infection of the cells found in the top later of the skin. The name of this virus is the human papillomavirus (HPV). Warts are skin-colored and feel rough to the touch. There are several different kinds of warts:
1. Common hand warts
2. Foot Warts
3. Flat warts
4. Genital warts
There are many new treatments available for warts including immunotherapy and laser therapy. These treatments are available at Soderstrom Dermatology Center, S.C.
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