Do you feel like you're the only one dealing with an autoimmune disorder? We assure you, you are not. In this video, we highlight nine famous people who openly suffer from psoriasis.
1. Psoriasis
Plaque psoriasis is characterized by raised red patches with a silvery-white coating on the knees, elbows, lower back, or scalp. It's the most common type of psoriasis, a chronic disease that hastens the maturation of skin cells and their arrival at the skin's surface.
The exact cause of psoriasis is unknown. Something is happening at the T-cell level, one of our body's immune cells, that signals the skin to overproduce. Psoriasis requires treatment that should be provided by a board-certified dermatologist.
2. Eczema
Eczema is usually identified by red, scaly, or even oozing crusty patches that itch a lot. Eczema is a broad term for a number of conditions that affect more than 30 million Americans. It is unknown what causes eczema, but researchers believe it is caused by a combination of environmental and genetic factors.
Eczema patients have extremely dry skin, which may be due to a mutation in the gene that controls the production of filaggrin, a protein that aids in the formation of a healthy barrier on the top layer of skin to prevent moisture from escaping and bacteria from entering. People with eczema's immune systems also tend to overreact to allergens or irritants, attacking their bodies rather than protecting them.
3. Seborrheic dermatitis
Seborrheic dermatitis is a common skin condition that affects the scalp, ears, brows, sides of the nose, eyelids, and chest. The cause is unknown, but it may be related to yeast that naturally lives on the skin and thrives in oily secretions to the point where your skin finds it irritating.
Seborrheic dermatitis typically affects adults between the ages of 30 and 60, with men being slightly more susceptible. Once you have it, you usually have it for life. The condition comes and goes, frequently clearing and flaring unexpectedly. Stress, as well as cold, dry weather, can cause flare-ups.
4. Tinea versicolor
Yeast on the skin can also cause tinea versicolor, a condition that causes dry, scaly, discolored patches on sweat-prone areas such as the neck, chest, back, and groin. Because yeast thrives in moist environments, it overgrows when some people sweat. The spots may itch and be lighter or darker than your skin. After spending time in the sun, the spots may become more visible.
Tinea versicolor is very common in tropical or subtropical regions of the world; some people live in these areas all year. The treatment is the same as it is for seborrheic dermatitis: Use an antifungal shampoo to draw the yeast in.
5. Dryness
Dry skin can affect anyone, but it is more common as you get older because your skin loses its ability to retain water. Skin can spring a microscopic leak and allow moisture to escape for a variety of reasons, including cold weather, indoor heat, hot water, aggressive washing, and aging, which reduces the cellular cement. It becomes dry, scaly, and itchy when the water content falls below a certain threshold.
6. Actinic keratosis
These growths appear on skin that has been exposed to a lot of sunlight over time. The face, ears, bald scalp, shoulders, neck, forearms, and backs of the hands are the most common locations for actinic keratosis. Actinic keratoses appear gradually and are initially felt rather than seen:
The majority of actinic keratoses are red, but some are light or dark tan, white, pink, and/or flesh-toned, or a combination of these colors. Several actinic keratoses may appear at the same time and then disappear, only to reappear later. The growths are considered precancerous because, if left alone, they could develop into squamous cell carcinoma, a type of skin cancer.
7. Allergies
Many things you put on your skin that you may be allergic to, from fragrance to hair dye, can cause inflammation that leads to itching, redness, and rough, scaly skin, a condition known technically as allergic contact dermatitis. Nickel is a common offender: Nickel allergies affect between 10% and 20% of the population, with women being more affected than men.
8. Skin cancer
Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), the second most common type of skin cancer, typically appears as scaly patches on areas of the body that receive a lot of sun exposure, especially at an early stage. These spots may resemble warts or appear as open sores with a raised border and crusted surface. These lesions, which range in size from pea to chestnut, can bleed if bumped, scratched, or scraped.
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