ABPI Schools - More than skin deep

Skin Problems

Skin problems can be a result of accidents or something causing an infection in the skin.

Skin Injuries

Skin can be damaged in lots of different ways. Sometimes the damage can break the skin which can let infection get into the body. Some of the ways in which skin can be damaged:

Cuts and scrapes
Insect bites
Dirty needles can push bacteria deep inside the body
Blisters
Bruises
Burns

We are lucky that skin can repair itself and, usually after a few days, a slight injury will be completely mended, but it is important to keep a wound clean so that there is less risk of infection.

A few days after burning her arm with hot oil

Skin Infections

The skin is a barrier which stops infection from entering the body. However, the skin itself can become infected by bacteria, viruses, fungi or tiny parasites.

Cause & examples of skin infections
Cause of infection	Some examples
Bacteria	boils, impetigo
Fungi	ringworm, athlete?s foot
Viruses	cold sore, wart, verucca
Parasite	scabies

Crusty, yellow sores near the mouth caused by the impetigo bacteria

Impetigo²

A close up of a pair of feet with red marks caused by the scabies parasite

Scabies¹

A close up of a red ring on someone's skin caused by the ring worm fungi

Ring worm¹

A close up of athlete's foot fungus between some toes

Athlete's foot²

¹ Images courtesy of Dr Dubin's collection, www.skinatlas.com | ² Photographs from www.dermatology.co.uk

Eczema

In eczema the skin is usually red, dry, sore and itchy. Anyone can get eczema and it can appear for no known reason or as an allergic reaction to something. It can be treated with special creams and sometimes disappears as suddenly as it came.

Acne

Acne is a rash, usually just on the face, and tends to occur in adolescence. It is caused by blockage and infection of the sebaceous glands in the skin. A doctor will recommend keeping the skin clean and may prescribe special creams or antibiotics.

Red dry sores of eczema on someone's elbow

Someone's chin covered in red acne blemishes

Skin Cancer

Very bad sunburn

There are many different types of skin cancer, most of which are caused by prolonged exposure to the ultraviolet (UV) rays in sunlight. About 1500 people die each year in England and Wales of one type, malignant , but many other types of skin cancer are fully curable if they are diagnosed early enough.

On hot sunny days, as well as UV rays, there will be infrared (IR) rays from the sun. These are responsible for the sun feeling hot on the skin but it is the UV rays from the sun that cause sunburn. Like any burn, sunburn damages the skin and takes time to heal. The damage can be at the surface and the deeper layers of the skin and, over a longer period of time, this can make the skin appear wrinkled and old.

To protect your skin, you are advised to cover up in the sun with a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses with UV protection. Areas that cannot be covered, the face, for example, should be protected with a sunscreen protection factor (SPF) of at least 15.

It is safest of all to avoid being out in the hottest part of the day, from about noon to 3 p.m. and, remember, you can still burn when swimming.

Question 3

Study the sentences below, then drag and drop
the missing word or phrase to complete the sentence.

impetigo

- caused by viruses

scabies

- dry, red itchy skin

boils

- caused by parasites

verrucas

- make the skin feel hot

acne

- caused by fungi

eczema

- caused by bacteria

malignant melanoma

- sunscreen protection factor 15

IR rays

- a dangerous type of skin cancer

SPF 15

- cause sunburn

UV rays

- infection of sebaceous glands