About skin disease

 

Children impacted by skin disease represent a vulnerable population. While kids are affected by every manner of any disease, the burden of pediatric skin diseases are uniquely severe in the way they are compounded by the psychosocial consequences of a chronic, visual disease; often associated with much embarrassment, loss of daily function and low self-esteem.

 

The list below represents some of the skin disease that impact our community of campers. It is by no means a comprehensive list of skin disease, nor meant to be use for diagnoses or treatment.

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Alopecia areata

Alopecia areata is a common autoimmune skin disease resulting in the loss of hair on the scalp and elsewhere on the body.

 

Atopic dermatitis

Atopic dermatitis is the most severe and chronic (long-lasting) kind of eczema. Atopic dermatitis is a disease that causes itchy, inflamed skin.

 

Ectodermal dysplasia

Ectodermal dysplasias are a diverse group of genetic disorders that involve defects of the hair, nails, teeth, skin and glands. Other parts of the body, such as the eyes or throat, may be affected as well. The combination of physical features a person has and the way in which it is inherited determines if it is an ectodermal dysplasia

 

Epidermolysis bullosa (EB)

EB is a rare genetic disorder that is painful, life-threatening, and can lead to disability and disfigurement. EB makes the skin so fragile that the slightest friction causes blisters and skin tears. The eyes, mouth, throat and other internal organs can also be affected. There is no cure or treatment today. 

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Elhers-Danlos (EDS)

EDS is thought to alter the biology of collagen in the body (the most abundant protein), which can lead to multi-systemic symptoms.  People with EDS can experience hypermobile joints and skin involvement, such as any of the following: soft, stretchy, saggy, too thin, easy bruising, easy wounding, poor wound healing and/or atrophic scarring.

 

Gorlin Syndrome

Gorlin syndrome, also known as nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome, is a condition that affects many areas of the body and increases the risk of developing various cancerous and noncancerous tumors.

 

Ichthyosis

Ichthyosis is a family of genetic skin disorders characterized by dry, scaling skin that may be thickened or very thin.

  

Pemphigus

Pemphigus is a group of rare skin disorders that cause blisters of your skin or mucous membranes. These diseases are caused by an autoimmune defect in which autoantibodies are produced to attack the "glue" that attached epidermal cells.

 

Psoriasis

Psoriasis is a chronic, autoimmune disease that occurs when the immune system sends out faulty signals that speed up the growth cycle of skin cells. These result in widespread "scales" - thick, red skin that flakes. 

 

Vitiligo

Vitiligo is a condition in which skin loses melanin, the pigment that determines the color of your skin, hair and eyes. This results in large, irregular white patches of skin.

 

How do I keep my skin healthy?

 

Keep It Clean: Washing your skin, especially your hands, is very important for keeping it healthy. Hand washing keeps you from spreading germs to other parts of your body. It also keeps you from spreading germs that could give others a cold or the flu. 

 

Protect It From The Sun: Your skin produces vitamin D when it is exposed to sunshine. Vitamin D helps keep your bones and other body systems healthy. However, too much sun can damage your skin and increase your risk for skin cancer. It may make your skin look old years too soon and can make it less able to fight off infections. Whenever you’re outside, use a sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 30 or 45. Apply it evenly, and have a friend or parent help you with the hard-to-reach spots. Follow the directions that tell you how often to reapply it—one application won’t last all day!

 

Tanning beds are NOT a safe alternative to sunlight.  Radiation damages your skin, whether the exposure comes from tanning beds or natural sunlight. This damage increases the risk of skin cancer and premature skin aging just like too much sun. In fact, most tanning beds emit mainly UVA rays, which may increase the risk of melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer.

 

Physical activity: It increases the flow of blood to the surface of your skin and brings oxygen and nutrients to your whole body. Sweating helps to flush out impurities from your skin.

 

A Healthy Diet, No Smoking, Lots Of Sleep: Keeping good general health leads to healthy skin.

 

 

Source: www.niams.nih.gov

This information is for reference only.  It is not meant to replace necessary medical care.  If you have a serious concern about your skin, consult a licensed physician