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Skin Conditions
Reviewed by Medicinsk Expert•Last updated: 2026-10-22•Skin Hair Nails

Skin Conditions

Your skin is the body's largest organ, serving as a vital protective barrier that requires proper care to maintain health.

What does your skin do?

Your skin is your body's largest organ. It covers the entire outside of your body. There are many ways that your skin protects your body and helps keep you healthy. For example, it:

  • Holds body fluids in, which helps prevent you from getting dehydrated
  • Keeps out harmful germs, which helps prevent infections
  • Helps you feel things like heat, cold, and pain
  • Helps control your body temperature
  • Makes vitamin D when the sun shines on it
  • Shields your body against heat and light

What problems and conditions can affect your skin?

There are many different problems and conditions which can affect your skin. Some of them can cause uncomfortable symptoms, such as itching, burning, redness, and rashes. They might also affect your appearance. Some of the more common skin conditions include:

  • Acne, which causes pimples when hair follicles under your skin get clogged up
  • Burns
  • Cuts and scrapes
  • Dandruff, flaking of the skin on your scalp (the top of your head)
  • Eczema (atopic dermatitis), which causes inflammation, redness, and irritation of the skin
  • Hives, which are red and sometimes itchy bumps on your skin
  • Insect bites
  • Psoriasis, which causes itchy, scaly red patches
  • Skin cancer
  • Skin infections

How can I keep my skin healthy?

Since your skin protects your body in many ways, it's important to try to keep your skin healthy. For example, you can:

  • Wear the right protective equipment, like gloves, long sleeves, knee and elbow pads, or helmets to protect against cuts, bumps and scrapes.
  • If you do get a cut or scrape, clean it right away with soap and warm water. Put on a bandage to protect it while it heals.
  • When you are spending time outdoors, wear long sleeves and pants and use insect repellant to prevent insect bites.
  • Prevent sunburn by covering up and using sunscreen when outdoors.
  • Wash your hands often with soap and water.
  • When you take a shower or bath, use warm (not hot) water. Use mild cleansers and wash gently (don't scrub).
  • Use moisturizers, like lotions, creams, or ointments, to prevent dry skin.

Frequently Asked Questions

Key warning signs include redness that rapidly expands beyond the initial border, localized warmth, significant swelling, worsening throbbing pain, pus or cloudy drainage, red streaks traveling toward the heart (lymphangitis), and systemic symptoms like fever, chills, or swollen lymph nodes. If these signs occur, prompt medical evaluation is essential to prevent deeper tissue infections such as cellulitis or systemic spread.
While both conditions cause redness and discomfort, eczema (atopic dermatitis) typically presents with intense itching, dry and sensitive skin, and cracked or weeping lesions located in flexural areas like the creases of elbows and behind the knees. Psoriasis presents with well-defined, thick, red plaques covered with silvery scales, commonly appearing on extensor surfaces like the outside of elbows and knees, the scalp, and lower back, and is less intensely itchy but often causes burning or soreness.
Hydrocortisone should never be used on suspected fungal infections (like ringworm or athlete's foot) because it suppresses the local immune response and allows the fungus to flourish. It should also be avoided on open wounds, viral sores like herpes or chickenpox, and on the face or groin unless specifically directed by a doctor, as prolonged use can cause permanent skin thinning, stretch marks, and topical steroid withdrawal.
Source: MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine

MedlinePlus brings together authoritative health information from the National Library of Medicine (NLM), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and other government agencies and health-related organizations.

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