Risk Factors | Hidradenitis Suppurativa

Potential Causes of Hidradenitis Suppurativa

While there is no exact reason for why the skin condition of hidradenitis suppurativa happens, it is believed that certain environmental and lifestyle choices could prompt this painful skin condition to appear. Many medical experts recommend that people try to avoid these environmental and lifestyle choices. Here is a look at what people are recommended to stay away from.

Hormone Imbalance. Many times when there is a known hormonal imbalance it could cause hidradenitis suppurativa to occur in certain individuals. Hormonal imbalances can happen due to natural means, through certain herbal supplements or even due to prescription medications mainly birth control. One of the first tests that a doctor or dermatologist will run is a hormone test to make sure that all the levels are as they should be.

Cigarette Smoking. Cigarette smoking has hundreds of consequences. One of those is that it can aggravate the skin condition hidradenitis suppurativa. Those that have a history of hidradenitis suppurativa are recommended to try to stop smoking completely or to avoid it when there is an outbreak of the skin condition. It is believed that the smoke might cause the oil and sweat glands to become even more blocked up than previously.

Excess Weight. Individuals who are slightly overweight can sometimes suffer from the skin condition more than those that are of average weight. Experts believe that the excessive weight causes the oil and sweat glands to work improperly which can cause the condition to appear in many individuals.

By avoiding cigarette smoke and losing weight individuals who have a history of hidradenitis suppurativa will be able to reduce the amount of lesions and bumps that they experience over time. While it won’t cure the condition it will allow them to have a break from any outbreaks.

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Complications That Can Happen As a Results of Hidradenitis Suppurativa

It is recommended if you suffer from hidradenitis suppurativa that you seek medical attention if the condition is not treated through self-care after one to two weeks. Should hidradenitis suppurativa be left untreated for a long time it could result in severe and constant medical problems. It is believed that seeking medical attention could prevent any further medical conditions from occurring.

Here is a look at the medical conditions that can happen as a result of leaving hidradenitis suppurativa untreated.

Tunneling of the Sinuses or Formation of Tracts. When the condition is left untreated for a lengthy period of time there is a chance that the sinus cavities can start to form a tunnel or tract system. When this happens it causes the bumps and sores that occur as a result of the condition to take a lot longer to heal than they would naturally.

Skin Damage or Scars. Due to the persistent nature of the condition if left untreated hidradenitis suppurativa will result in extreme skin conditions. These conditions range from scarring that occurs because of the many raised bumps and slow to heal wounds, pitted skins or oil glands and patches of skin that are extremely darker than the natural or surrounding skin tones.

Restricted Movement. When flared up hidradenitis suppurativa can cause movement restriction. This is because the lesions can be painful when brushed or moved. Many people experience problems with movement when the condition effects the armpits or legs/thighs.

Cellulitis. This type of condition will start out as a small bacterial infection. It will appear as a swollen, red area of the skin that is usually hot to touch. The infection will quickly move throughout the body and will dramatically affect the skin and bloodstream. When this occurs it is extremely serious and medical attention should be sought immediately.

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Who is At Risk of Developing Hidradenitis Suppurativa

Many times certain medical conditions and problems can be narrowed down to a specific group of individuals. This narrowing down allows medical professionals to know which individuals are at a higher risk of developing certain diseases and conditions. Here is a look at who is at risk for developing hidradenitis suppurativa.

Females. When looking across the board at who developed this skin condition more often it was discovered that females experienced it more often than males. There is no known reason as to why this occurred.

Ages 12 to 40. Hidradenitis suppurativa will usually start to show itself at the beginning of puberty. It will often occur as hard to treat acne. There are no known cases of hidradenitis suppurativa in children. While it is believed that the condition will stop sometime in a patient’s 40s there are documented cases of the condition showing up in individuals who are over the age of 40. However, this is rare.

Family History. Although hidradenitis suppurativa is not a genetic condition those who have a family history are more susceptible to this rare skin condition than others who had no previous family history of the condition.

Although these factors can help health care professionals and dermatologists determine who might be at risk for developing hidradenitis suppurativa it does not determine who exactly will get it. Hidradenitis suppurativa has been known to occur in certain a number of individuals regardless of age, sex, ethnic or racial background. However, if you fit into one of the above listed categories you are at a high risk of developing it than other individuals.

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Why Don’t We Take Skin Cancer Seriously?

Skin cancer isn’t seen as a threat to your health and it absolutely should be. Many people see the words “skin cancer” and they think a minor setback along the way. However, skin cancer is a dreaded disease that can effect the lives of many. It’s something that can cripple your life and kill you if you are not careful enough to take care of it.

So if it’s so deadly then why do so many people ignore it as a serious threat. The first answer to the question has to be in the way people talk about skin cancer. They tend to talk about it in a passive attitude. It’s not something that you can mess around with. But people talk about it like it has never mattered and will never matter. They see it as a mole being removed and nothing more. This is a dangerous belief to take with something so fatal.

Many people see it as something that is so easily detected there is no way to catch it late. For instance, looking at a person’s whole body, naked, it would be very hard to tell if that person had lung cancer. Just looking at them there are no visible signs of lung cancer. However, if you looked at a whole person you could see cancerous skin spots on their body and go to the doctor to have them removed.

If this were the case than no one would ever die from it. The problem is that our body produced an assortment of little bumps and lesions and therefore we aren’t always ready to spot them. We ignore them until it spreads to the cells within the skin and then we are in big trouble. The key is that we take everything we see on our body as seriously as we take any other medical sign. Skin cancer doesn’t kill as often, but that doesn’t mean that it can’t.

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Rashes With the Nicotine Patch

If you are trying to give up smoking, then good for you. It’s a better option than ending up in an assisted living facility when you are suffering from the effects of smoking. There are many options out there to try and help you quit. While a lot of people try to quit cold turkey, it is difficult for many others to do so. They need certain aids in order to help them quit the habit. The nicotine patch is one of those aids.

The nicotine patch looks like an over-sized band-aid. The inner part is usually circular, while the outer part is square. The patch contains various doses of nicotine, depending on which stage you are in of the quit process. The inner portion works to slowly release nicotine into your body. It takes about three hours for the nicotine to travel through your body.

However, if you are going to be wearing the nicotine patch, you need to be aware of side effects. One of the side effects of the nicotine patch is skin rashes. The rash is either caused by the adhesive on the patch or by a negative reaction to the nicotine. If you get a rash from the patch, you can use hydro cortisone cream to relieve some of the pain and itching caused by the rash.

Another side effect is sleep disturbance. The patch can cause very strange dreams, mainly because you are wearing it at night and it is still delivering nicotine to your body at a time when you are usually not using nicotine. If you find you are having problems with vivid dreams that cause you to wake up, try switching to a lower dose nicotine patch.

While these symptoms tend to be mild, you should still take care to make sure they don’t get any worse.

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Smoking and the Skin

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With the damage placed on the body by smoking, it is possible to look at the skin of two people and compare them to tell if either person smokes. Cigarette smoke is not good for the internal organs, but also the external organ, the skin, is also affected by smoking. For example, the majority of people who smoke will show early signs of wrinkling on their skin. There is also an increased risk of being diagnosed with a chronic skin condition called psoriasis that can affect the nerve endings producing pain and blemishes.

Most of the scientific testing has been on the effect of smoking on the internal organs, but more is needed on how smoking affects the skin. Previous studies have found that smokers have a higher amount of wrinkles compared to nonsmokers. In comparison to those smokers who eventually quit and those who continued to smoke, the group that continued to smoke had more wrinkles and skin conditions than those who had quit.

Using the knowledge of what all that is known about smoking and its effects on health, especially the health of the skin, some smokers have started using alternative methods to quit. One alternative method is an electric cigarette. The electric cigarette has the same look and feel of a real cigarette and releases a dose of nicotine to help the smoker with cravings. The cigarettes have a battery that keeps the device charged. At a party no one will know the difference and it is also possible to buy flavored versions of these cigarettes. Using this alternative, the person can reduce the amount of wrinkles he or she gets but can smoke around family and friends. You can also reduce how much nicotine is in each cartridge, which can help with smoking cessation if you want to quit completely. There are even cartridges available with no nicotine at all.

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Understanding Vitiligo

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Before Michael Jackson used this skin disease to explain his changing skin color many persons had never heard of vitiligo. It affects people of all skin color, but is most obvious in darker skinned individuals. Statistically, between one to two percent of the US population is affected. The condition generally develops between 20 and 40, but can occur at any age.

What is Vitiligo?

It is an autoimmune disease which results when the cells (melanocytes) responsible for skin color die or begin to malfunction. The most affected areas are the extremities such as fingers, around the eyes, nostrils, mouth and genital area. It also causes premature graying.

The two types of vitiligo are non-segmental and segmental. Persons with non-segmental vitiligo have patches widely distributed over their bodies. With the latter type, the patches do not spread as readily, if ever. The condition can be inherited, but most children of parents with vitiligo do not get the disease.

Can the Condition be Treated?

There is no cure for vitiligo, but some treatment options exist. Affected persons can slow down or improve the impact on skin’s pigmentation by:

• Using makeup to camouflage the affected area.
• Avoiding tanning or too much sun exposure especially for sufferers with fair skin.
• Topical creams which re-pigment the skin have been tested and shown to have some positive impact.
• Surgery and laser treatment are sometimes used to help treat the condition. This is rare, however, and is primarily experimental. Surgical intervention usually involves skin grafting. Tattooing is also used when the de-pigmentation is not too severe.
• Complete de-pigmentation. When the discoloration affects most of the skin, what remains of the original skin color can be removed. This process can take as little as six months to well over two years to be completed.
• Use of sunscreen, especially on lighter areas is recommended.

The treatment option depends on how much of the body is affected.

Many persons have lived and continue to live successful and happy lives with vitiligo. In fact, there are quite a few celebrities who have the condition, including The Cosby Show’s Tempestt Bledsoe and actor/comedian Joe Rogan.

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When a Rash is More Than Just a Rash

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Skin rashes are common and will occur for a number of reasons. They can be caused by a reaction to certain types of material, or can be a response to a food allergy. Sometimes even skin creams or cosmetics can cause these flare ups. For the most part they are just irritating and some will eventually go away on their own. There are occasions, however, when a skin rash is a sign of something more serious.

Dangerous Skin Rashes

It is never wise to simply ignore any rash no matter how harmless it may seem. Seek the advice of a doctor once a rash appears, especially if you can pinpoint no reason for its appearance. Rashes, whether they show up on one part of the body or not should be reason for concern. Signs that could point to a serious health condition include:

• A rash that is accompanied by blisters and are accompanied by itching or not.
• Itching, burning or pain in the irritated area could be a sign of the disease called Tungiasis. This is caused by fleas.
• Thickening of the skin which could be a sign of Pediculosis caused by body lice.
• Any rash that causes the skin to become scaly in appearance.
• Burning or stabbing pain in the affected area which could be a sign of shingles.
• Any rash that affects the mucus membranes, particularly the mouth and nose area. This could point to toxic shock syndrome as well as other dangerous conditions.

Lesions and rashes that produce secretions should be checked by a doctor as soon as possible. If the cause of the rash is something common such as an encounter with poison ivy, there is no real reason to worry. Do not attempt to treat a skin rash that displays any of the above mentioned symptoms on your own.

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Learn More About Psoriasis

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Psoriasis is a condition that does not seriously affect the quality of life, but can nonetheless be distressing for sufferers. Some people have more severe types of the condition that can lead to other problems. While it is a lifelong skin condition there are treatment options available that provide some relief. Armed with the right information, you will be better able to deal with this condition.

What is Psoriasis?

This skin affliction is caused by the rapid growth of skin cells. This abnormal growth is a response to a malfunction of the immune system. Simply put, excess skin is produced in the affected areas. It usually presents as scaly patches that can occur anywhere on the body although the elbow and knee areas tend to be most affected. Some sufferers have psoriasis over their entire body.

Not much is known about what cases this excess growth of skin resulting in psoriasis. Experts believe there may be a genetic link but this has yet to be fully explored. What is certain, however, is that people with the condition will experience recurrent flare-ups and much appreciated dormant periods. It is also known that certain external factors can cause outbreaks. These include:

• Stress, especially that caused by high pressure jobs
• Alcohol consumption
• Certain types of medication (this is called drug induced psoriasis)
• Smokers may also experience frequent flare-ups

Symptoms and Related Conditions

Typically what are seen as symptoms of psoriasis can also be regarded as the effects of the disease. The thick scaly patches are quite distinctive and easily identifiable. Some tend to be red in appearance while others have a white or silvery look. Severe cases of the condition can result in joint problems. When the joint is affected, the resulting condition is referred to as psoriatic arthritis.

Treatment

Some patients show an improvement with exposure to mild sunlight. There are also creams which effectively help with controlling psoriasis. The downside is that stopping their use sometimes results in another flare-up. Psoriasis, while an unsightly skin condition, is not contagious and definitely not life threatening.

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Protecting Children From Scabies

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Anyone can develop this condition, but children are more prone due to their often close interaction with each other. It is also referred to as body lice, meaning the tiny mites that burrow into and lay eggs in the skin. It is not life threatening, but it can cause severe itching and discomfort. Scabies tends to affect particular areas of the body such as the webs of the fingers. Other favorite areas of this mite include the buttocks and the genital area and under the breasts.

Signs of Scabies

This is a highly contagious condition. While it does often present signs they are not always obvious. Even the most vigilant parent can end up having to deal with an itchy child. To keep the problem from causing too much discomfort, be aware of the following signs:

•The appearance of tiny red bumps on hands and arms

•Constant scratching especially at the buttocks area

•Young children will show signs of scabies on the feet, neck and face

•Thin lines where the mites have burrowed

Treating Scabies

Obviously it makes sense to keep your child away from someone you know is infected. Discourage them from sharing clothes and other personal items with others. Someone can carry the mite for a month or more without even knowing it. If your child does end up with scabies don’t panic. While the itching does not let up for long it is still quite treatable.

Creams like permethrin can be used to treat infestation. Scabies treatment can only be obtained with a prescription. Use fabric sprays on furniture the child comes in contact with. Washing clothes and linens in hot water will help to prevent a reoccurrence. Some children will get temporary relief from itching when given antihistamines.

Filed Under: Health, Risk Factors, Symptoms, Treatments and Drugs | Tagged: Tagged With: Itch, Scabies, Skin Disorders