Here's A List Of Bizarre Skin Diseases You Had No Idea Existed

Jul 03, 2018

Summer is upon us, and with that season comes the desire to bare some skin! Keeping your skin in tip-top shape will ensure that you look and feel your best as you attend all of your summer barbecues, parties, and beach excursions. When you experience a skin flare up, it can be distressing, and you may feel the need to cover it up. Knowing what is going on with your skin and being able to treat its conditions as they pop up is key to looking and feeling radiant and dewy all summer long. Here are some little-known skin conditions you need to know about, should you find yourself experiencing uncomfortable symptoms:

That's a mouthful, isn't it? Maniacal Dermatozoonosis is actually a psycho-dermatological condition where a person imagines that they are experiencing imaginary parasite attacks both on and underneath the surface of the skin. Characterized by extreme itching, this uncomfortable condition needs to be treated both topically and psychologically to find the underlying symptom of its inception.

Otherwise known as "flight attendant's disease", this condition is caused by the swelling of pores due to excessive use of makeup. Many flight attendants regularly moisturize and apply moisturizing makeup to combat the effects of dry air that they experience during travel, causing this condition. The only way to treat Perioral Dermatitis is to let the skin breathe, makeup-free, for a period of time.

Hyperhidrosis is excessive sweating. It can occur in specific areas or be a condition that affects the entire body. Hyperhidrosis is often a condition that indicates that another problem is present in the body. If you wake up in the middle of the night with soaked pajamas, it is best to see your doctor for the underlying cause. It may be a thyroid problem, diabetes, cancer, inflammatory conditions, or an infection. In any case, knowing what is happening is crucial to being able to treat it effectively. Once the underlying cause of hyperhidrosis has been treated, often times the excessive sweating will subside, giving you some much-needed relief.

Flushed skin is a natural response to many things--sweating, sunburn, alcohol consumption, or even blushing. When the skin remains red for long periods of time, however, it is called Erythrophobia. Many people dislike the look and feel of red skin, and come to fear this condition, further exacerbating the problem. Doing what you can to reduce stress and manage your cortisol level will be helpful in managing and possibly eradicating this condition.

Trichotillomania, a form of alopecia or hair loss, is caused by a neurological disorder. People who suffer from this condition cannot control tearing out their hair, and they will eventually go bald if they don't get some professional help. While this disease affects the skin and hair on your head, it is best treated by visiting a psychiatrist, not a dermatologist.

Dysmorphophobia is the gradual distortion of the way a person sees himself/herself. In time, they come to fear their own natural flaws and imperfections. In extreme cases, self-deprecating or harmful behavior develops as the imagined fears and imperfections cause additional stress, making it too much for a person to bear. Again, this condition is best treated by visiting with a psychiatrist to find the underlying cause for this irrational view of the self.

There are a reported 60 million Americans that suffer from acne. For some, the stress of having a blemish-filled face causes additional distress, and these people begin to scratch and pick at blemishes in an effort to make them disappear more quickly. Skin that becomes infected and irritated takes longer to heal, further delaying the process of clearing up the skin. Over time, if the issues are not addressed, the picking and scratching behavior becomes automatic, and it is necessary to call in professional help to address the behavior as well as the emotional distress caused by blemishes. With time and additional support, it is possible to correct problem behaviors and heal the skin.

We all want to put our best selves forward; suffering from any type of skin condition can be stressful, but there is help and support if you find yourself experiencing distressing symptoms. Reach out, talk to your doctors and dermatologists to receive a correct diagnosis, and know that help and healing are available to you. Be patient with the process as you follow their medical advice, and realize that everyone has periods of time when they don't look or feel their best. Embrace your journey to healing, and look for your strengths, not your weaknesses, as you travel the path to wellness.

Our content is created to the best of our knowledge, yet it is of general nature and cannot in any way substitute an individual consultation with your doctor. Your health is important to us!

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