6 totally normal skin diseases | Oscar Rx | hioscar Blog | Oscar
6 totally normal skin diseases
Rashes. Acne. Dermatitis. Psoriasis. Skin cancer. Warts. These skin diseases are totally normal – and easy to treat.
General HealthClinically Speaking
5 min read
Dr. Bobby Buka
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When it comes to braving the elements, your skin does a lot of work to protect the rest of your body from sunlight, bacteria, fungi, microscopic bugs, and more. It’s no wonder that skin conditions are often so frustratingly visible.
As your largest organ, your skin is susceptible to health issues just like any other part of your body. The good news is that it has a built-in alarm system to visually alert you when there’s an issue. It’s pretty hard to ignore an itchy bug bite or swelling hives. Even dry or flaky skin can clue you in that something’s off.
We chatted with NYC dermatologist Dr. Bobby Buka (opens in new tab) about 6 of the most common skin conditions. They’re all totally normal – and in most cases, easy to treat.
1. Acne
What it looks like: Whiteheads, cysts, blackheads, and zits.
Where you get it: Face, back, arms, chest, butt, shoulders.
What causes it: Bacteria, buildup of dead skin due to lack of exfoliation, and hormones.
DIY treatments: Over-the-counter products with benzoyl peroxide.
Topical creams, gels, and lotions with antimicrobial or retinoid ingredients such as clindamycin, sulphur washes, Adapalene, Differin, Retin-A, and tretinoin. Creams are best for people with dry skin, gels are good for people with oily skin, and lotions can work for all skin types.
Oral antibiotics and medications like doxycycline, minocycline, and Accutane, for anyone with painful cystic acne or people in their 20s or 30s who’ve tried everything and still can’t get rid of their acne.
Hormonal treatment (for ladies only) such as birth control pills or spironolactone to block estrogen.
In-office treatments such as laser, microdermabrasion, and chemical peels. (They’re also the priciest treatment option.)
2. Eczema (aka dermatitis)
What it looks like: Dry, itchy, red skin.
Where you get it: Crooks of your arms, backs of your knees, hands, feet.
What causes it:
Family genetics.
Allergic reaction to things like poison ivy, fragrances, or nickel.
Chronic use of harsh agents like hair dye or soap.
DIY treatments: Hydrocortisone 1% (available at drug stores). Not typically recommended by dermatologists, since long-term use can cause other skin problems like stretch marks.
How it’s treated by a professional: Topical steroids to treat a flare-up, or non-steroidal creams like Protopic, Ucrisa, and Elidel for preventive day-to-day.
What it looks like: Scaly skin, white flakey skin, or severe dryness. People with psoriasis may also suffer from other conditions such as joint pain, obesity, autoimmune disorders, or cardiovascular disease.
Where you get it: Knees, elbows, butt. In severe cases, all over the body.
What causes it: Unknown.
When to see a doctor: As soon as you notice something. Your doctor can establish a baseline for your condition, help monitor any other conditions that go along with psoriasis, and reduce your flare-ups and symptoms.
How it’s treated by a professional:
Topical medications such as steroids, maintenance vitamin D (Dovonex), tar, Protopic, and foundational emollients.
Otezla prophylaxis, if the surface area is too large to treat with topical medications.
Antibody injections every 1-3 months to sop up extra proteins.
In-office light therapy with UVB light (that won’t cause skin cancer) to suppress inflammation.
4. Skin cancer
What it looks like: Moles, skin growths that change over time, or cuts/sunburns/ingrown hairs that take a long time to heal.
Types of skin cancer:
Basal and squamous skin cancer caused by sun exposure. People with fair skin, light eyes, and freckles are more at risk.
Melanoma, a more serious type of skin cancer found in moles that may change shape over time. You can track your moles over time using the ABCDE evaluation rubric (opens in new tab) (asymmetrical shape, border, color, diameter, and evolution).
Where you get it: Anywhere.
What causes it: Genetics and sun exposure.
When to see a doctor: The ADA recommends an annual skin check (opens in new tab) with a dermatologist. During these visits, your doctor may take samples or remove moles if anything looks suspicious. Prior to your skin check, it’s a good idea to talk to your family members to learn about any history of melanoma to help your doctor determine your risk of developing skin cancer.
How it’s treated by a professional: Early recognition and detection are the only options to effectively treat skin cancer. Seeing a doctor as soon as you notice an irregular growth may decrease risk of metastasis of skin cancer to other areas of the body. The earlier you catch skin cancer, the smaller your lesions, which means that you’ll have smaller scars when you get treatment. There are also more non-surgical options for early skin cancers.
5. Rosacea
What it looks like: Redness in your face, especially when drinking or embarrassed. In severe cases, papules or pustules near the cheekbones as well.
Where you get it: Face.
What causes it:
Basel model instability in your facial blood vessels.
How it’s treated by a professional: Topical solutions such as Ivermectin to kill the demodex. For less severe rosacea, oxymetazoline to stabilize basel motors.
6. Warts
What they look like: A cluster of rough bumps, or a single nub that’s raised and textured.
Where you get them: Anywhere, including your genitals.
What causes them: Viruses contracted from skin-to-skin contact.
When to see a doctor: As soon as you notice something to prevent spreading the virus. Genital warts may cause cervical cancer and are easily passed from one partner to another. They need to be biopsied to determine if they’re HPV1 or HPV2, a higher-risk virus that may lead to cancer.
How they’re treated by a professional:
Topical creams and solutions such as Aldara or salicylic acid, which may debride the wart.
In-office removal by freezing, cutting, or lasering.
Injection of a chemo agent called bleomycin.
Immuno smart bomb targeting with candida (aka yeast), which may be injected into the wart. Because your body naturally fights yeast, it may also kill the wart that’s been injected with it.
Parting words
If you notice something’s up with your skin, it’s a good idea to call your dermatologist. While most of these common skin conditions aren’t life-threatening, the sooner you seek treatment, the faster you'll find relief.
