Monday 14 December 2015

Skin diseases and Infections

Impetigo

This is caused by bacteria infecting the outer layers of the skin. This can be done through a break in the skin from an injury, cuts or bites or through damaged skin due to an underlying condition such as eczema.
There are two types of impetigo which are bullous and non-bullous. Non-bullous typically affects the skin around the nose and mouth which causes sores to develop which lead on to burst and crust. Bullous typically affect the mid section of the body which causes blisters filled with fluid that go on to burst and crust. This is very contagious and should be avoided.

Eczema

This is a long term skin condition that causes the skin to become red, itchy, dry and cracked. It can affect any part of the body but the most common areas are knees, elbows, hands, neck, face and scalp. There is no known cause for atopic eczema however it is known to run in families. There is no known cure but can be aided with treatment. It is not contagious however precautions should be taken not to trigger it.




Conjunctivitis

This is a common condition caused by bacteria, viral infection, allergies or irritants. It causes redness and inflammation of the thin layers of tissue that covers the front of the eye. It can cause  This is not contagious and can be treated with ointments or tablets. It is best to leave the eyes untouched by any products or fingers whilst having this infection.

Cold Sore

Highly contagious, this strain of herpies simplex virus starts off with a tingling, burning or itching sensation around the mouth. This progresses onto small blisters that usually develop at the corners of the mouth or lips. It clears up around 7 to 10 days however can be triggered by various things depending on the individual. 



Source:
http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Impetigo/Pages/Introduction.aspx
http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Eczema-(atopic)/Pages/Introduction.aspx
http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Conjunctivitis-infective/Pages/Introduction.aspx
http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Cold-sore/Pages/Introduction.aspx

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