Skin care involves cleansing the skin and then caring for it with lotion, oil, cream, or ointment.

There are many products available to maintain and care for healthy skin. However, for skin conditions such as acne and eczema, these products are not always suitable and may sometimes make the condition worse.

This is because many substances and chemicals are added to skin care products, and skin affected by acne or eczema may react strongly to these ingredients.

Skin conditions are irritations or abnormalities of the skin that can be caused by factors such as fungi, viral infections, and allergies. There are also hereditary forms, which are known as genodermatoses.

The skin conditions discussed here in more detail are acne, rosacea, and eczema.

Acne

Acne, also known as teenage spots or pimples, is a non-contagious skin condition in which the sebaceous gland follicle becomes inflamed.

It mainly appears on the face, particularly the T-zone consisting of the forehead, nose, and chin, as well as on the back, neck, décolletage, and shoulders. It occurs mainly during puberty in teenagers and young adults between the ages of 12 and 24.

At a later age, acne occurs more frequently in women than in men. Sebum production is necessary to prevent the skin from drying out.

There are three main types of acne: comedones (blackheads), pustules (pimples), and infiltrates (inflamed, red, painful areas of skin).

Acne can cause scars that do not disappear on their own. These scars can be treated, including with laser therapy.

Rosacea

Rosacea is a skin condition in which dilated blood vessels become visible. It commonly occurs in women between the ages of 30 and 50.

Episodes, also known as flare-ups, cause redness and can make pimples and bumps visible on the face. The skin barrier function is impaired in people with rosacea, making the skin more sensitive to external influences.

The cause of rosacea may be related to a reduced barrier function of the epidermis. Another demonstrated association involves the Demodex mite, which occurs around twenty times more frequently in rosacea-affected skin than in healthy skin.

Triggers for flare-ups can include weather conditions, certain skin care products containing aggressive ingredients, smoking, and stress.

Eczema

Eczema is generally classified as a skin condition, although technically it is more a symptom of an underlying condition. It is characterized by itching, redness, blisters, bumps, or cracks in the skin.

There are many types of eczema. The best-known form is constitutional eczema, also known as atopic eczema. This form occurs in around 20% of children.

Atopy is an inherited tendency to react to substances such as pollen and house dust mites. The atopic syndrome includes hay fever, eczema, and asthma. These are conditions resulting from hypersensitivity of the body to certain substances, and they often appear at a young age.

Other forms of eczema include:

• Seborrhoeic eczema: red skin with yellow, greasy scales. It occurs more often in men than in women.
• Contact eczema: redness and itching caused by contact with certain substances.
• Nummular eczema: nummular means coin-shaped. The patches are oval or coin-shaped.
• Dyshidrotic eczema: redness and scaling, particularly around the lower legs, sometimes accompanied by swelling. It is common in older people.
• Athlete's foot: a fungal infection of the foot. Technically, this is not eczema.
• Eczema around the eyes: eczema around the eyes can cause swelling of the eyes.

A distinction is also made between acute and chronic eczema.

Acute eczema develops quickly and may cause redness, swelling, itching, and blisters. This can later be followed by scaling while the redness decreases.

Chronic eczema occurs when the scaly phase develops into hardening of the skin and the natural skin lines become more pronounced. This is known as lichenification. Cracks may develop in the hardened, stiff skin.

In addition to acne, rosacea, and eczema, there are many other skin conditions, including:

• Psoriasis: a chronic skin condition. Plaque psoriasis is the best-known form. It is characterized by red patches and scaling of the skin and may also be accompanied by joint pain. A hereditary factor has been identified in this condition.
• Hives or urticaria: raised welts develop as a result of swelling in the dermis. These welts are among the symptoms of hives. The swelling may also be referred to as angioedema and is caused by leakage from blood vessels.
• Scabies: a contagious skin condition caused by the scabies mite. The main symptom is itching, although blisters may also develop.
• Herpes infection: generally a relatively harmless skin condition that often heals on its own. Symptoms can include a painful or burning sensation and blisters.
• Couperose: a harmless and non-contagious skin condition involving an increase in the number of visible red and blue blood vessels in the skin. The vessels may appear red and become visible on the face.
• Shingles: a skin rash caused by a viral infection. Groups of blisters develop in a band-like pattern and may cause pain and itching. The varicella-zoster virus, which also causes chickenpox, is responsible for shingles. People who develop shingles have previously had chickenpox.
• Other viral and bacterial skin infections: a wide variety of infections can also affect the skin.

What these conditions have in common is that an abnormality or change can be seen on the skin. This may involve a change in colour, such as red or white patches, or another type of change such as scaling, bumps, or other visible skin abnormalities.

Another aspect that many skin conditions have in common is the feeling of embarrassment and frustration they can cause.

The symptoms are often visible and may lead to questions or unwanted attention in social situations.

Approximately one-quarter to one-third of people with chronic skin conditions may also require psychological support.

Conditions that cause itching can also lead to a vicious cycle of scratching, itching, scratching, and further itching. Scratching can make the symptoms worse and can also cause considerable frustration.

It is therefore important that psychological symptoms are taken seriously so that the person can find a way to cope with them and reduce the risk of social isolation and depression.

As described above, a skin condition can often be recognized by an abnormality or visible change in the skin.

This may include redness, scaling, bumps, patches, cracks, spots, changes in colour, or other changes to the skin.

These symptoms may sometimes be accompanied by itching, pain, or a burning sensation.

If you experience symptoms, consult a qualified healthcare professional so that an appropriate treatment can be started as soon as possible.

There are also many skin conditions, such as age-related warts, that generally do not require treatment.

If you notice changes or abnormalities on your skin, it is important to consult a doctor. A doctor may prescribe medication or refer you to a specialist.

Eczema can be triggered or made worse by dry skin. It is therefore important to care for and moisturize your skin properly.

Once symptoms are present, it is important to use appropriate skin care. You should also try to avoid scratching when the skin is itchy.

With conditions such as acne and rosacea, it can be helpful to keep track of when symptoms appear. This may provide an indication of possible triggers or causes and can help support more targeted treatment.

Treatments for skin conditions are as varied as the conditions themselves. Some conditions disappear on their own, while others require targeted treatment.

In the case of acne, treatment may include an ointment or cream. Antibiotics may sometimes be prescribed for more severe symptoms.

Scarring that can remain after acne may also be treated with laser therapy.