Skinby/Skin library
The skin library
51 plain-language guides to common skin conditions and everyday care, built line by line from the NHS, the National Institutes of Health, MedlinePlus, the CDC and the FDA. They explain what the sources say. They cannot tell you what is going on with your skin.
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- Rashes and rednessBlistersBlisters are fluid-filled sacs on the outer layer of your skin.
- Rashes and rednessContact dermatitisContact dermatitis is a type of eczema triggered by contact with a particular substance.
- Rashes and rednessDermatitisEczema is also called dermatitis.
- Rashes and rednessEczemaEczema is a term for several different types of skin swelling.
- Rashes and rednessGranuloma annulareGranuloma annulare is a skin condition that often looks like a ring of bumps.
- Rashes and rednessHeat rashHeat rash is uncomfortable.
- Rashes and rednessHivesHives are red and sometimes itchy bumps on your skin.
- Rashes and rednessInsect bites and stingsInsect bites sometimes cause discomfort.
- Rashes and rednessItchy skinItchy skin is not usually a sign of anything serious.
- Rashes and rednessLichen planusLichen planus is a rash that can affect different parts of your body, including the inside of your mouth.
- Rashes and rednessPerioral dermatitisPerioral dermatitis is a long-lasting inflammatory rash of the face. It causes stinging, burning or itching and small red bumps or pimple-like spots that can last for weeks to months. The skin around the mouth is most often affected, but it can also affect skin around the eyes and nose.
- Rashes and rednessPityriasis roseaPityriasis rosea is a common skin rash.
- Rashes and rednessPoison ivy, oak and sumacMost people are sensitive to the plants' oily sap.
- Rashes and rednessPsoriasisPsoriasis is a skin disease that causes itchy or sore patches of thick, red skin with silvery scales.
- Rashes and rednessRashesA rash is an area of irritated or swollen skin.
- Rashes and rednessRosaceaRosacea is a long-term disease that affects your skin and sometimes your eyes.
- Rashes and rednessSeborrheic dermatitisDandruff is usually a symptom of seborrheic dermatitis, or seborrhea. It is a skin condition that can also cause redness and irritation of the skin.
- InfectionsBoilsA boil is a hard and painful lump that fills with pus.
- InfectionsCold soreCold sores are caused by a contagious virus called herpes simplex virus (HSV).
- InfectionsImpetigoImpetigo is a skin infection that's very contagious.
- InfectionsMolluscum contagiosumMolluscum contagiosum is a viral infection that causes spots on the skin.
- InfectionsRingwormRingworm is a common fungal infection.
- InfectionsScabiesScabies is an itchy rash caused by mites.
- InfectionsTinea versicolorPityriasis versicolor is a common fungal skin infection.
- InfectionsWartsWarts are growths on your skin caused by an infection with humanpapilloma virus, or HPV.
- Bumps and textureFolliculitisFolliculitis is inflammation of the hair follicles. Bacteria, viruses or fungi can cause it, and so can things that are not infections, such as drug reactions.
- Bumps and textureIngrown hairs and razor bumpsIngrown hairs cause bumps, which are often itchy, where a hair has grown back into the skin.
- Bumps and textureKeratosis pilarisKeratosis pilaris is a very common condition where small bumps appear on your skin.
- Bumps and textureScars and keloidsA scar is a permanent patch of skin that grows over a wound.
- Bumps and textureSkin tagsSkin tags are soft, skin-colored growths on the skin.
- Sun and colorSkin color changesPigmentation means coloring.
- Sun and colorSunburnSunburn is damage to the skin caused by too much sun.
- Sun and colorVitiligoVitiligo causes white patches on your skin.
- Eyes and lipsBlepharitis (eyelid inflammation)Blepharitis causes swollen, itchy eyelids.
- Eyes and lipsCanker sores and mouth ulcersCanker sores are small, round sores in your mouth.
- Eyes and lipsEyelid problemsEyelid disorders include a variety of conditions that affect your eyelids.
- Eyes and lipsStyeA stye is a small, painful lump on the eyelid.
- Everyday careBurns and scaldsBurns and scalds can often be treated at home if they're small.
- Everyday careCuts and scrapesMost cuts and grazes can be treated at home and will start to heal in a few days.
- Everyday careDark marks after breakoutsDark marks after a breakout are called post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH). They happen after the skin has been inflamed, for example by acne, an injury or a skin procedure.
- Everyday careDry and itchy skinSometimes itching is caused by dry, cracked or irritated skin.
- Everyday careHyaluronic acidHyaluronic acid is a natural part of skin that helps keep it hydrated, elastic and firm.
- Everyday careLittle-known skin factsMoisturizer works by sealing in water your skin has just taken in, so when you put it on matters.
- Everyday careNiacinamideNiacinamide is a form of vitamin B3.
- Everyday careRetinolRetinol turns into retinoic acid, the active form, inside human skin.
- Everyday careSun protectionIn the United States the FDA regulates sunscreens like other nonprescription drugs, so they have to meet safety and effectiveness standards.
- Everyday careVitamin CVitamin C is an antioxidant: it can neutralize oxidants such as those from pollution and ultraviolet radiation.
- Everyday careWhat causes acne, and what does notAcne is a common skin condition that happens when hair follicles under the skin become clogged.
- Get care soonAngioedema (sudden swelling)Angioedema is sudden swelling that's often caused by an allergic reaction.
- Get care soonCellulitisCellulitis is a skin infection that's treated with antibiotics.
- Get care soonShinglesShingles (herpes zoster) is an infection that causes a painful rash.
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About these pages
Moles and other growths are not covered here: show any new, changing, bleeding or non-healing spot to a doctor.
Information from the NHS website is licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Pages adapted from it say so and show the date they were copied. Other pages use U.S. government sources in the public domain and open-access journal articles licensed CC BY 4.0. Every page lists its sources.
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