Skin Inflammation
What is skin inflammation?
Your immune system is important for maintaining your overall health. It works to detect and neutralize foreign invaders, such as infectious microbes and even cancer cells. When this happens, inflammation can occur. Like any other part of your body, your skin can be involved in immune responses. Inflammation in the skin often causes a rash to form. It’s typically a response from your immune system to conditions such as:
*Infections
*Internal disease or condition
*Allergic reaction
Common causes of skin inflammation, which can include:
*Dermatitis
*Psoriasis
*Various skin infections
Symptoms of skin inflammation can include:
Rash which may vary depending on the cause of the inflammation:
*May be smooth or scaly
*May itch, burn, or sting
*May be flat or raised
*Skin redness
-Warmth in the affected area
-Blisters or pimples
*Raw or cracked areas of skin that may bleed
*Thickening of skin in the affected area
What causes skin inflammation?
Inflammation occurs when your immune system responds to a stimulus or trigger. There are many different types of cells in the immune system that are involved in inflammation.
These cells release a variety of substances that can widen blood vessels and make them more permeable. This allows the immune response to reach the affected area more easily. It also leads to many of the symptoms associated with inflammation, including redness, heat, and swelling.
Potential causes of skin inflammation are:
-Immune system dysfunction - your immune system may not work properly and may direct an immune response to normal, healthy tissues, such as with psoriasis.
-People with celiac disease may experience a skin condition called dermatitis herpetiformis when they eat foods that contain gluten.
Allergic reaction
When your immune system sees something as foreign and overreacts, it can cause an allergic reaction, which in some cases can cause skin inflammation. You can get an allergic rash from medications or eating certain foods.
Contact Dermatitis:
Contact Dermatitis can occur if you come into direct contact with an irritant or allergen, such as:
*Poison ivy
*Certain perfumes
*Some cosmetic products
*Bacterial, viral, or fungal infection
Examples of infections that may cause skin inflammation include:
*Impetigo
*Cellulitis
*Ringworm
*Seborrheic dermatitis, caused by yeast present in the oil on your skin
*Photosensitivity - This is an immune reaction to sunlight. Medical conditions, such as systemic
lupus erythematosus, can make your skin more sensitive to sunlight.
Heat
A skin reaction to heat may cause heat rash. This occurs when sweat gets trapped within your pores, causing irritation and a rash.
Other factors:
Skin inflammation such as eczema may be caused by various factors, including:
*Genetics
*Immune dysfunction
*Bacteria on the skin
How is skin inflammation diagnosed?
To diagnose the cause of your skin inflammation, your doctor will first perform a physical exam and take your medical history. Many cases of skin inflammation caused by an infection can be diagnosed by an examination of the rash.
While taking your history, your doctor may also ask if you noticed the inflammation following eating a particular food, taking a certain medication, or coming into direct contact with a particular thing.
Your doctor may also perform some routine blood tests, such as a basic metabolic panel or complete blood count, to rule out a specific disease or condition.
If an allergy is suspected, they may advise allergy testing, which can be performed as a skin or blood test.
How you can treat skin inflammation?
If your condition was caused by an allergy, you’ll need to avoid the trigger for your skin inflammation.
There are many different treatments available for the treatment of skin inflammation. The type of treatment will depend on the cause of your inflammation. Your doctor will work with you to determine the treatment that will work best for your condition.
*Topical treatments are applied directly to your skin.
*Oral medications are taken by mouth to help control your inflammation and can include:
Antihistamines to treat allergies and antibiotics.
There are also various things that you can do at home to relieve your skin inflammation, including:
*Using cool, wet compresses or wraps to help ease irritated skin
*Applying ointments or creams to avoid irritated and cracked dry skin
*Taking vitamin supplements, which may help with skin inflammation that’s associated with eczema
*Using essential oils, which has anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial components that may be effective in treating seborrheic dermatitis.
*Wearing clothing that has a smooth, soft texture
*Managing stress
*Contact Glorious Glow Info Help Line for Assistance
Call your doctor if your rash:
*Appears all over your body
*Occurs suddenly and spreads rapidly
*Is accompanied by a fever
*Starts to form blisters
*Is painful
*Appears infected, which can include symptoms like oozing pus, swelling, and a red streak coming from the rash
*Allergic reactions can develop into anaphylaxis. This is a life-threatening condition, and you should seek immediate emergency medical attention.
Symptoms for Immediate attention:
*Rapid heart rate
*Low blood pressure
*Abdominal pain
*Nausea or vomiting
*Diarrhoea
*Dizziness or fainting
*Feeling of doom
Skin inflammation can occur due to an immune response. This can be due to a variety of factors, including immune system dysfunction, an allergic reaction, or an infection.
The most common symptom is a rash, but other symptoms such as redness, heat, or blistering can occur. A variety of topical and oral medications are available for treatment once the cause of your skin inflammation has been diagnosed.