Skin problems

They may need to be removed, as they may turn into malignant growths. Cancer of the skin can be much less serious than cancer in any other part of the body because it can be diagnosed readily and early and removed early-provided no time is wasted on dangerous home treatment. Always make certain that any new or changing growth or lesion -a lump, sore, or wart-is harmless by having your physician check it rather than by "waiting to see." Waiting can represent dangerous loss of time. (See page 556 for more on cancer.)

 OTHER SKIN DISEASES Syphilis may be the reason behind any sore appearing in the genital region between three days to three months after sexual intercourse with an infected person. It may manifest itself again about six weeks later in the form of a measles-like rash, accompanied by 'jymplom5 somewhat like those of a cold. Although it is not true from syphilis, there is no time to waste if a sore or rash should be syphilitic in nature. Your physician can cure the disease immediately or set your mind at ease by making a test that can prove you do not have it. Syphilis does not cause pimples and itching. (See page 657 for fuller discussion of syphilis.) 

Erysipelas, also known as St. Anthony's fire, is an infection of the skin and underlying tissue caused by streptococcal bacteria. The affected skin becomes swollen, painful, burning, itching, and red, with a glazed, shining surface. It must be treated by a physician, who can cure it with avail- able modern medications. Glanders, anthrax, and tularemia are serious ailments contracted from animals with these diseases. Skin lesions can be important symptoms. Rashes can be caused by many contagious diseases such as smallpox, meningitis, measles, and other common diseases of childhood. It is important to note that any rash or abnormal skin condition that is accompanied by a fever or a general feeling of illness is a danger signal. A physician should be consulted for prompt diagnosis and necessary treatment. Lupus erythematosus, pemphigus, and scleroderma are potentially dangerous skin diseases.

 Lupus erythematosus is manifested by a red eruption of the nose and cheek, which takes the shape of a butterfly. It may follow exposure to the sun. The disease frequently remains in its mild form, especially if the patient follows the physician's recommendations. Pemphigus usually begins as a number of blisters, most commonly starting around the nose and mouth and gradually involving the rest of the body. Scleroderma, a hardening of the skin, is usually preceded by changes in the circulation of the skin, especially in the hands and feet, which become bluish and cold. These diseases today, with prompt treatment, have a far better outlook than only a few years ago. They are rare diseases and are mentioned here as a reminder that the skin is an important organ of the body and can be affected by more than minor ailments. 

Athlete's foot Skin problems

Athlete's foot, also called ringworm of the foot, should have medical attention if it persists. It is caused by a fungus, a microscopic plant growth, which thrives on dead cells of the foot, particularly under warm and damp conditions that may be found on the skin between the toes. Swimming pool walkways, locker rooms, and public showers are sources of infection. For primary prevention, shower slippers should be worn whenever possible. Other means of prevention include keeping the feet clean and dry.

If you have a tendency toward athlete's foot, dust the feet with talcum powder after washing and drying. Wear clean socks daily. Persistent athlete's foot, if untreated or inadequately treated, may lead to more serious bacterial infection (streptococci); so if you have a persistent problem, let a physician help you to eradicate it and prevent recurrence. Other ringworm diseases may develop under the nails, on the scalp, on the skin, and in the genital area. All may be spread by way of contaminated clothing, an infected pet, a barber's unsterilized tools, or dirty combs and brushes. Personal cleanliness and refusal to use anyone else's unwashed clothing, towels, or toilet articles offer the best protection against ringworm ailments.  

 SKIN GROWTHS A wart, produced by virus invasion, is a small growth of epidermal skin cells. Don't attempt to treat a wart yourself. There are satisfactory methods of getting rid of warts, including application of chemical sub- stances or painless burning off of the growths with a special needle. These methods are not safe unless employed by a skilled physician. Birthmarks include pigmented moles and the vascular types such as "strawberry marks." Never attempt to remove either kind yourself. Your physician can advise you about the precise nature of the mark, whether it may be expected to disappear spontaneously on its own (as some do), whether and when any special treatment may be needed, and when it is simply most practical to conceal the mark with a cosmetic preparation such as Covermark.

Your physician may feel that it is best to remove moles located on the palms, soles, or genitals. Any mole that starts to grow or bleed should be seen promptly by a physician. Keloids are tumors that do not become malignant. They appear in scars, and should not be cut out, as they usually will reappear in the new scar tissue forming after the cutting out. A physician can remove them with dry ice or radium. Harmless yellow tumors, called xanthomas, are caused by deposits of fat in the skin. If unsightly, they can be removed by your physician. Keratoses are soft brown spots that may appear in middle age. Later, they become hard, in which case it is usually good practice to have them examined by your physician. 

Skin Infections

Skin sensitivity is not the same thing as allergy. For example, if your hands become irritated after repeated use of a strong cleansing agent, but not irritated after repeated use of the same agent in a weaker solution, you are sensitive rather than allergic to it. The allergic individual reacts to very tiny amounts of materials to which he is allergic. Skin sensitivity varies greatly among individuals. Some skins are sensitive to a multiplicity of things; others too few if any.  

SKIN INFECTIONS Exposed as it is, the skin is subject to invasion by many types of micro- organisms, including bacteria that may be harmless and other bacteria, that may cause boils or impetigo; viruses that cause fever blisters; parasites responsible for scabies; fungi that cause such problems as athlete's foot; and the organism of syphilis, the spirochete, which produces syphilitic lesions. A boil is a swollen, inflamed area on the skin produced by bacteria- bacteria that often are present on the skin but unable to do any damage unless resistance has been lowered by such things as irritating friction, cuts, poor health, bad nutrition, or diabetes.

A carbuncle, which may be produced by the same type of bacteria involved in boils, is more serious than a boil because it involves inflammation not only of the skin but of deeper tissues and is accompanied by a general feeling of illness. Boils and carbuncles respond readily to medical treatment, which may include use of penicillin or another antibiotic and/or incision and drain- age if necessary. In addition, the physician will try to determine the basic cause and treat or eliminate it if possible. (Diabetes may be heralded by the appearance of boils and other skin infections.) Anyone with a carbuncle should see a doctor. So should anyone who has a number of boils at one time or suffers from repeated outbreaks. Boils and carbuncles can be serious matters.

Organisms from a boil or carbuncle may enter the blood, with grave and even fatal consequences. This is particularly true of a boil or carbuncle on the nose or upper lip, because in these areas there is an easier access route for the organisms to reach the brain. If you have a small boil that is not on nose or upper lip, it is usually safe for you to try the following: Wash the boil and surrounding area with soap and water several times a day. Lightly dab on 70 percent alcohol afterward. Cover, not too tightly, with an antiseptic gauze pad to prevent irritation. In addition, hourly for ten minutes at a time, apply hot compresses. Make the compresses by soaking an antiseptic gauze pad in hot water containing as much table salt as will dissolve in it. This not only helps relieve pain but stimulates the boil to come to a head and drain. Cover with a fresh dry pad. If the boil does not get better within a few days, see your physician. Do not attempt to open a boil yourself or let an amateur surgeon friend try.