Month recognizes human body’s largest organ

By Amanda Phipps

phippsa@thejohnsonian.com

It may look like a ring, but it has nothing to do with a worm.

Tinea corporis, commonly referred to as “ringworm,” is a fungal infection that causes a round spot on the skin and continues to grow as the center becomes clearer, assistant director of health services Mary Jo Barreto said. Ringworm is curable and can appear anywhere on the body, including the scalp. 

Another type of infection is tinea versicolor. Warm and moist air can lead to yeast production, which can form a fungal infection on the skin, according to the American Osteopathic College of Dermatology website. This infection has occurred on campus. 

“I have seen many students come in with this and not know what it is,” Barreto said.

Yeast is a type of fungus and in moist air can grow and leak out acidic bleach. Pale or light reddish-brown patches then form on the skin. It is treated with medications and is usually worse in warm air.

November is National Skin Care Awareness Month. Skin care expert Renee Rouleu founded the month in 1995, according to her website.

In her website, Rouleu states: “I saw a real need for consumers wanting truthful, accurate and no-nonsense information about how to care for their skin.”

She said skin care products can help with problems, according to her website. She believes lifestyle choices, diet and habits also affect how skin looks and behaves.

“It is my mission to use my almost 25 years of hands-on experience working with skin to share with you what I know to be true so you can have healthy, beautiful and glowing skin,” Rouleu stated on her website.

Skin care is important for preventing disease and infections, Barreto said.

“There are weird diseases that can manifest in skin,” she said. “Dermatology is a hard thing.”

Rosacea is a skin infection that causes inflammation around the central portion of the face, she said. It can affect people of any age, but usually affects those after 30 years old. Dermatologists do not know the cause of this infection, but they speculate it may be linked to a vascular or vessel disorder because it causes the veins to grow and become visible.

Rosacea is estimated to affect over 16 million Americans, most of whom do not know they have it, according to the National Rosacea Society website. It can cause psychological, social and occupational problems because of the acne-like effects on the skin. 

“More than 76 percent of rosacea patients said their condition had lowered their self-confidence and self-esteem,” according to the article. Symptoms include redness, bumps or pimples on the face and watery eyes.

Psoriasis is a skin disease caused by an over-proliferation of cells and results in a thick buildup of plaques in the skin, Barreto said. 

According to the National Psoriasis Foundation website, “(Psoriasis) occurs when the immune system sends out faulty signals that speed up the growth cycle of skin cells.” 

The most common type of psoriasis is plaque, which results in raised, red patches on the skin that are covered with a white buildup of dead skin cells, or scale. 

It is not contagious, but is incurable. It can, however, go in remission, Berreto said. It can affect any place on the skin, and usually infects people in their 20s and 30s. 

Psoriasis is also associated with diabetes, heart disease and depression, according to the Foundation’s website. 

There are different forms of skin cancer that can affect people, as well. Melanoma is the most serious type of skin cancer, according to The Skin Cancer Foundation website. It is treatable if found early but can be deadly if it has advanced in the body. Melanoma is the form of skin cancer that is least common, but causes the most deaths.

Skin cancer is influenced by sun exposure, moles, family history, personal history and a weakened immune system, according to the foundation’s website. 

Other types of skin cancer include actinic keratosis, which is the most common pre-cancer, basal cell carcinoma, the most common form of skin cancer, dysplastic nevi, or atypical moles; and squamous cell carcinoma, which occurs mainly in people with fair skin, light hair and blue, green or gray eyes, according to the foundation’s website. 

To prevent skin cancer, people should check themselves for unusual moles and watch to see if they change in shape or color, Barreto said. If an area keeps scaling, in which small pieces of skin come lose, and doesn’t heal, it also needs to be checked.

Eczema, or dermatitis, refers to various types of skin swelling, according to the Medline Plus website. It causes the skin to turn red, well up and itch, but is not dangerous or contagious. 

Atopic dermatitis is the most common type of eczema and is an allergic condition common in babies and children that results in dry and itchy skin, according to the website. It cannot be cured, but people can prevent eczema by avoiding things they are allergic to, stress and other irritants. 

Poison ivy is another type of dermatitis that does not cause infection, Barreto said. However, a person can get a secondary infection from scratching their skin.

To prevent the spread of disease and infection, people need to wash their hands and keep cuts clean, Barreto said. They also need to use non-alcoholic moisturizers, especially during the winter when skin dries out more. Drinking fluids and avoiding hot showers can also keep skin moisturized.

 “It is important for people to take care of their skin at a young age,” she said. “Be sensitive to your skin.”