Scot Fleshman
The Wellness Wednesday column is written by Scot Fleshman, an advanced registered nurse practitioner and board-certified family nurse practitioner. Fleshman and his wife, Jessica Hopkins, own Gig Harbor Primary Care.
Community Health & Wellness
Wellness Wednesday: Why you shouldn’t ignore skin inflammation
Your body has a smart way of communicating to you when it’s in distress — through your skin.
The layers of your skin can often be a reaction to something deeper going on within your body. From diet to mental health to exposure, there are various internal and external factors that can result in your skin appearing inflamed.
Symptoms
The symptoms your skin shows can be a good indicator of what disease or disorder you may be struggling with. Noticeable signs such as redness, heat, swelling, pain, itching, and blisters can all become present when acquiring skin inflammation. The different signs can aid you and your healthcare provider in determining the specific disease or disorder and how to properly treat or manage it.
What causes skin inflammation
We touched on external factors causing skin inflammation. The sun is a big one and can result in serve burns, heat rash, and more. Plants and certain materials can cause redness or rashes that itch and are often unpleasant.
Eczema
You’ve probably come across this term before but may be unaware of what it means. Eczema is a chronic inflammatory skin condition. It affects “more than 31 million Americans. Eczema is a type of dermatitis, a group of conditions that cause skin inflammation.” It can affect anyone of any age and symptoms are typically present from childhood into adulthood. Eczema can cause your skin to become rough, bumpy, and itchy, which is never an enjoyable experience. Symptoms can come and go but can be triggered by weather, fabrics, environmental factors, mental health and allergies.
If you think you may be struggling with Eczema or another form of skin inflammation, it’s best to seek help from your primary care provider. They can help to ease the uncomfortable symptoms that come with dry, irritated skin.
Autoimmune disease
An autoimmune disease can occur when the body’s immune system attacks the healthy cells. The primary cause is still generally unknown. Life changes, medications and environmental factors have all been found to be potential causes. Autoimmune diseases that can lead to skin inflammation include celiac disease, psoriasis and lupus.
Unfortunately, there is no cure for autoimmune diseases. They can, however, be managed with a wide variety of medications and lifestyle changes. For example, those with celiac disease can reduce their symptoms by removing gluten from their diet.
Psoriasis
A well-known autoimmune disease that has been found to result in inflammation of the skin is known as psoriasis. Psoriasis affects millions of people, including more than 3% of the U.S. population, according to The Cleveland Clinic. The symptoms often appear as itchy scales that pop up on the scalp, face, elbows, knees, and many other places on the body.
Though psoriasis can not be completely cured, topical and oral medications can relieve symptoms. Common flare-ups can result from immense stress, injuries, infections and medications.
Psoriasis occurs when your immune system produces new skin cells at a faster rate than normal. An overactive immune system could be a sign that something within your body is unhappy, for example, your gut health or mental health. It’s best to talk with your doctor or dermatologist if you are in need of assistance.
Next steps
Of course, there are many forms of skin inflammation, and everyone has a different reaction to internal and external health factors. At Gig Harbor Primary Care, we work to educate our community and provide guidance on the best route to optimal health.
If you are struggling with a skin disease or disorder, we highly recommend you meet with your primary care provider or dermatologist to develop the most effective health plan for you and your loved ones.