Common Conditions

An allergic reaction is your body's response to an allergen. Reactions can vary from person to person, and from allergen to allergen. They can affect many systems of your body, and they can range from mild to severe.

After a cut or scape, the healed skin may form a scar. It looks and feels different from other skin. And while scars may fade on their own over time, they don't go away completely.

This itchy skin reaction comes from touching certain plants. It's caused by an oil, called "urushiol," found in the sap of these plants. Even a tiny bit of this oil causes a skin reaction in most people.

This common problem happens when the edge of a toenail grows into the skin of your toe instead of over it. The nail may dig in deep. And that can be very painful.

This is a disease that causes your hair to fall out in round patches. It happens when your body attacks the cells that make your hair. This disease is not dangerous or painful. But it can be very upsetting.

Scabies is an itchy skin rash caused by the microscopic scabies mite. It burrows into the skin, where it lives and lays its eggs.

This is an infection that causes thickened, discolored nails. It can happen in fingernails, but it's most common in toenails. Nail fungus can spread from one nail to others. And it spreads from one person to another. Nail fungus can be painful and embarrassing. A severe infection permanently harms your nails.

This is an infection of the tissue around a fingernail or a toenail. Most often, it's not serious. But in some cases, it can be hard to treat. It can become a long-term problem. When this happens, we say you have a "chronic" infection.

This is an infection that causes red, circular rashes on your skin. Ringworm of the body can affect the skin anywhere except your scalp, your groin, the soles of your feet and your palms. But ringworm of the body is just one of many forms of ringworm infections. There are other, closely-related infections such as jock itch and athlete's foot that can affect other parts.

Ringworm is a general term used to describe a very common type of skin infection. It is not caused by a worm at all, but by a fungus. In this video, you'll learn more about the fungus that causes ringworm and what steps you can take to prevent the infection.

This is a viral infection that usually affects older people. It makes your skin break out in a rash that can be very painful.

This viral disease is related to smallpox. It's known as "monkeypox" because it was first found in colonies of monkeys. But the virus infects other animals and humans, too.

Although most skin moles are harmless, sometimes they turn into cancer. Skin cancer can be deadly, but many types of skin cancer can be treated successfully if caught early. So if you have a mole, it's important to watch it closely for warning signs of cancer. You can remember the warning signs by remembering "ABCDE."

If you have swollen, twisted veins beneath your skin, you have varicose veins. Most often, they are found in the legs and the feet. They can be painful, and many people feel embarrassed by them.

This is a skin disease. It affects your face, and sometimes your eyes. It causes red, thickened skin and other problems, which begin as flare ups but over time become more permanent. This can be troubling and embarrassing.

This disease causes dry, itchy, scaly patches of skin. We often see them on the elbows, knees and scalp. Psoriasis is a long-term condition with no cure. It can be linked to other serious issues, like a form of arthritis called "psoriatic arthritis." And living with psoriasis can take a toll on your emotional health.

Watch this to learn how one person has lived with psoriasis all her life.

Watch this to hear how one man has lived with psoriatic arthritis.

This is a mark on the skin that is present at birth. Often, it's on the face. But it can form anywhere on your body. These birthmarks can be any size, from small to very large. A port-wine stain isn't usually harmful, but for some people it can be embarrassing or disfiguring.

This chronic condition, which we call "HS," causes painful, boil-like lumps under the skin. They tend to form in areas where the skin rubs together. Often, they form in the armpits and groin.

If you have experienced hair loss, you know it can be unsettling. It's a common issue that happens for many reasons. It can happen to anyone at any age.

This is a harmless lump that forms beneath the surface of your skin. It's filled with a thick, pasty substance. A skin cyst usually isn't painful, but it can become sore if it gets infected.

These are dark areas that form on the skin. We often see them on skin that gets a lot of sun. Age spots are most common in older people, especially those with fair skin. But young people who are out in the sun a lot can get them, too.

This is a common skin condition. It causes patches of small, rough bumps on your skin. The bumps are harmless. They don't itch or cause pain.

These noncancerous, wart-like growths form on the skin, sometimes in patches. They're most common in older people.

This is an allergy to the rubber latex. Latex is made from the rubber tree. It's found in many products, including medical gloves and balloons. When you have this allergy, latex causes your body to react. It can happen when you touch something made of latex. You can also have a reaction if you breathe in tiny particles of latex that are released into the air when latex products are handled. A latex allergy can be very dangerous.

This is a group of autoimmune diseases. They cause your body to make too much collagen. Collagen is a fibrous tissue found in your skin and other parts of your body. Scleroderma affects systems throughout your body. And for some people, it can lead to serious problems.

This disease affects the skin and hair. With it, you develop areas that have no pigment. You'll see white splotches on your skin. And areas of your hair may turn white. Over time, these areas can grow larger. While vitiligo isn't harmful, it can make you feel unhappy with the way you look.