Common Conditions

Watch this video to know when to see a dermatologist to look at your mole and understand the importance of checking for changes in size, shape, and color.

Watch this video to learn what varicose veins are, the potential complications they may cause, and how home treatments can help manage them.

Watch this video to learn what the word psoriasis means.

Watch this video to learn what the word rosacea means.

Watch this video to learn what spider veins mean.

Watch this video to learn what the word shingles means.

Watch this video to learn what a skin cyst is

Watch this video to learn what the word eczema means

These are red, raised areas that form on the skin. They're often itchy. Hives can range in size from small to large, and they can develop anywhere on your body.

This is an infection in the deeper layers of your skin. It results in redness, swelling and pain. Cellulitis most often affects the legs and feet, but can occur anywhere in the body. If it's not treated properly, it can spread. It can lead to serious infections in other parts of your body. This can be life-threatening.

A pilonidal cyst is found near the tailbone or top of the buttocks crease. It may look like a pit or small depression. In some cases, it may have a hollow tunnel (sinus tract) that connects it to the surface of the skin. This sheet tells you more about pilonidal cysts and how they're treated.

After years of being very rare in the US, bedbugs are making a comeback. Bedbugs feed on human and animal blood, usually at night. Bedbugs are a nuisance. But they are not a major threat to your health. Read on to learn more.

Vitiligo is a skin disorder that causes the skin to lose its natural color (pigmentation). Learn more about this condition, including symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment.

Learn about what adult acne is, what causes it, and how it's treated.

Warts are common skin growths that can appear anywhere on the body. There are many types of warts. In most cases, they aren't cancer (benign) and are harmless. But warts can be embarrassing. And some warts are painful. The good news is that they can be treated.

Most moles are not cancer and are harmless. But some do become cancer. That's why you need to check the moles on your body.

Rosacea is a chronic skin disease that causes facial redness. It appears mainly in adults. Light-skinned people who tend to flush are most often affected. Read on to learn more.

This condition causes your skin to be irritated. People with asthma or allergies also often have this condition.

Psoriasis is a chronic skin disease. It can begin at any age. Learn about symptoms and treatments.

Poison oak, poison ivy, and poison sumac are plants that can cause skin rashes. Here's what you need to know about recognizing these plants, how they cause a reaction, and preventive steps you can take to protect yourself.

A subungual hematoma is a pool of blood that collects under a nail after an injury. In most cases a nail hematoma isn't serious, but it can be very painful.

Most sunburns are minor and go away in a few days. But sunburns can be serious. It's important to know when to get medical care.

Scabies is an infection caused by tiny mites that burrow into the skin. They cause severe itching. Though children are most commonly infected, anyone can get scabies. Scabies mites can pass from person to person through close physical contact. They can also be passed through shared clothing, towels, and bedding.

Impetigo is a skin infection. It's most common in children. Read on to learn more.

Acanthosis nigricans is a skin condition that appears as dark, thick patches on the skin. Learn more about this condition, including causes, symptoms, and treatment.

Actinic keratosis is a skin growth caused by sun damage. Many people get these growths, especially as they age. This is because of regular exposure to the sun over years.

Alopecia areata is a condition that causes your hair to fall out. It causes bald patches on the scalp, but it can also cause hair loss on other parts of the body.

Bullous pemphigoid is an autoimmune skin disease that causes blisters to form. Learn more about this condition, including causes, symptoms, and treatment.

A carbuncle is a painful boil under the skin. It happens when a group of hair follicles become infected.

Cercarial dermatitis is a type of skin rash. It's caused by an allergic reaction to tiny parasites. The parasites are sometimes found in water such as lakes, rivers, and the ocean.

Contact dermatitis is a common type of skin rash. It's caused by something that touches the skin and makes it irritated and inflamed.

Seborrheic dermatitis is a common type of rash that causes red, scaly, greasy skin. It occurs on skin that has oil glands, such as the face, scalp, and upper chest.

An epidermoid cyst is a small abnormal growth in the top layers of the skin. These cysts grow slowly, and they can grow anywhere on the body.

Folliculitis is a skin condition that affects the hair follicles. It's often found on the neck, face, and scalp.

Hidradenitis suppurativa is a long-term (chronic) skin disease. It causes painful bumps and sores to form around a hair follicle.

Hyperhidrosis is excessive sweating. It's often an ongoing (chronic) condition. Here's what you need to know.

Lichen planus is a chronic skin disease. It's a rash that can develop anywhere on the body. But it most often occurs on the wrists, arms, legs, scalp, and genitals.

Lichen sclerosus is a skin condition that causes white patches to form on the body. They most often affect skin around the genitals and anus. But they can appear anywhere, even in the mouth.

A lipoma is a lump under the skin that's made of fat. It's not cancer (benign). Learn more about how lipomas occur, symptoms, treatment choices, and possible complications.

Pityriasis rosea is a type of skin rash. It starts with one large round or oval scaly patch called the herald patch, and then causes many more small patches.

Pubic lice are small insects that infest hair in the groin area. Learn more about pubic lice, including cause, symptoms, and treatment.

Seborrheic keratoses are wart-like growths on the skin. These growths are not cancer. Many people get them, especially after age 30.

Detailed information on keratosis pilaris, including symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) treats cancerous cells with light. It uses light and medicines called photosensitizers to target harmful cells. PDT was first approved by the U.S.

Learn the basics about streptococcal skin infections, including what it is, how it's diagnosed, and how it's treated.

An allergic reaction is your body's response to an allergen. Reactions can vary from person to person, and from allergen to allergen. They can affect many systems of your body, and they can range from mild to severe.

After a cut or scrape, the healed skin may form a scar. It looks and feels different from other skin. And while scars may fade on their own over time, they don't go away completely.

This itchy skin reaction comes from touching certain plants. It's caused by an oil, called "urushiol," found in the sap of these plants. Even a tiny bit of this oil causes a skin reaction in most people.

This common problem happens when the edge of a toenail grows into the skin of your toe instead of over it. The nail may dig in deep. And that can be very painful.

This is a disease that causes your hair to fall out in round patches. It happens when your body attacks the cells that make your hair. This disease is not dangerous or painful. But it can be very upsetting.

Scabies is an itchy skin rash caused by the microscopic scabies mite. It burrows into the skin, where it lives and lays its eggs.

This skin condition results in patches of blistered skin, often on the hands and feet. It's linked to exposure to cold (but not freezing) air. Usually, it doesn't lead to permanent damage.

This common skin problem is caused by a fungus that likes to grow on warm, moist feet. Even though it's called athlete's foot, you don't have to be an athlete to get it. Anyone can get this infection. Let's take a moment to learn more.

This is an infection that causes thickened, discolored nails. It can happen in fingernails, but it's most common in toenails. Nail fungus can spread from one nail to others. And it spreads from one person to another. Nail fungus can be painful and embarrassing. A severe infection permanently harms your nails.

This is an infection of the tissue around a fingernail or a toenail. Most often, it's not serious. But in some cases, it can be hard to treat. It can become a long-term problem. When this happens, we say you have a "chronic" infection.

This is an infection that causes red, circular rashes on your skin. Ringworm of the body can affect the skin anywhere except your scalp, your groin, the soles of your feet and your palms. But ringworm of the body is just one of many forms of ringworm infections. There are other, closely-related infections such as jock itch and athlete's foot that can affect other parts.

Ringworm is a general term used to describe a very common type of skin infection. It is not caused by a worm at all, but by a fungus. In this video, you'll learn more about the fungus that causes ringworm and what steps you can take to prevent the infection.

This is a viral infection that usually affects older people. It makes your skin break out in a rash that can be very painful.

This viral disease is related to smallpox. The virus that causes it is known as the "monkeypox" virus because it was first found in colonies of monkeys. But this virus infects other animals and humans, too.

This is a common fungal skin infection. It causes patches of discoloration on your skin. It's not harmful, but you may not like the way it looks.

This is an infection linked to an incision or small opening that was made in your skin during surgery. You're at risk for this type of infection in the weeks following your procedure as your body is still healing. Let's take a moment to learn more.

An abscess is a pocket of pus that forms around an infection. Pus is a fluid made up of germs (bacteria), white blood cells, and other matter. Draining pus from an infected area or organ inside the body may be needed. This helps heal the infection.

Although most skin moles are harmless, sometimes they turn into cancer. Skin cancer can be deadly, but many types of skin cancer can be treated successfully if caught early. So if you have a mole, it's important to watch it closely for warning signs of cancer. You can remember the warning signs by remembering "ABCDE."

This is a skin disease. It affects your face, and sometimes your eyes. It causes red, thickened skin and other problems, which begin as flare ups but over time become more permanent. This can be troubling and embarrassing.

This disease causes dry, itchy, scaly patches of skin. We often see them on the elbows, knees and scalp. Psoriasis is a long-term condition with no cure. It can be linked to other serious issues, like a form of arthritis called "psoriatic arthritis." And living with psoriasis can take a toll on your emotional health.

Watch this to learn how one person has lived with psoriasis all her life.

Watch this to hear how one man has lived with psoriatic arthritis.

This is a mark on the skin that is present at birth. Often, it's on the face. But it can form anywhere on your body. These birthmarks can be any size, from small to very large. A port-wine stain isn't usually harmful, but for some people it can be embarrassing or disfiguring.

This chronic condition, which we call "HS," causes painful, boil-like lumps under the skin. They tend to form in areas where the skin rubs together. Often, they form in the armpits and groin.

You may have noticed tiny red or blue bursts (spider veins). Or maybe you have veins that bulge or look twisted (varicose veins). If so, there are treatments that can help.

Information about self-care for spider and varicose veins includes exercising and staying at a healthy weight.

This is a name for several forms of swelling of the skin. We also call it "dermatitis." In many people it affects the cheeks, the insides of the elbows, or the skin behind the knees. You may have dermatitis on your hands or feet, or on your buttocks. It isn't a contagious condition.

If you have experienced hair loss, you know it can be unsettling. It's a common issue that happens for many reasons. It can happen to anyone at any age.

This is a harmless lump that forms beneath the surface of your skin. It's filled with a thick, pasty substance. A skin cyst usually isn't painful, but it can become sore if it gets infected.

These are dark areas that form on the skin. We often see them on skin that gets a lot of sun. Age spots are most common in older people, especially those with fair skin. But young people who are out in the sun a lot can get them, too.

This is a common skin condition. It causes patches of small, rough bumps on your skin. The bumps are harmless. They don't itch or cause pain.

These noncancerous, wart-like growths form on the skin, sometimes in patches. They're most common in older people.

This is an allergy to the rubber latex. Latex is made from the rubber tree. It's found in many products, including medical gloves and balloons. When you have this allergy, latex causes your body to react. It can happen when you touch something made of latex. You can also have a reaction if you breathe in tiny particles of latex that are released into the air when latex products are handled. A latex allergy can be very dangerous.

This is a group of autoimmune diseases. They cause your body to make too much collagen. Collagen is a fibrous tissue found in your skin and other parts of your body. Scleroderma affects systems throughout your body. And for some people, it can lead to serious problems.

This disease affects the skin and hair. With it, you develop areas that have no pigment. You'll see white splotches on your skin. And areas of your hair may turn white. Over time, these areas can grow larger. While vitiligo isn't harmful, it can make you feel unhappy with the way you look.

This condition is a lack of pigmentation in the body. It happens when your body makes little or no melanin. That's the substance that gives your skin, hair and eyes their color.

This skin rash is a painful reaction to something touching your skin. Let's take a moment to learn more.

This is when the skin of your lips becomes dry and rough. It's a common problem for many people when the weather is cold and windy. Let's take a moment to learn more.

Your skin has tiny glands that make oil called "sebum." This oil helps keep your skin healthy and soft. But sometimes, your skin's glands make too much oil. When this happens, your skin looks shiny and feels greasy. This is what we call "oily skin." Let's take a moment to learn more.

These lines or streaks can appear on your skin when you gain or lose weight rapidly or when you grow quickly. Stretch marks can show up on different parts of your body, like your belly, arms, or legs. Let's take a moment to learn more.

This small, fleshy growth forms on your skin. You can have one skin tag, or you can have several. You can have them on different places on your body. Skin tags are not harmful, but you may not like the way they look. Let's take a moment to learn more.

Hives are pink or red bumps on the skin. The bumps can itch, burn, or sting. Hives can occur anywhere on the body. Read on to learn how to care for yourself when you have hives.

Pearly penile papules (PPP) are small bumps that grow on the ridge near the head of the penis. Learn more about this harmless skin condition.