Skin disorders, such as acne and eczema, vary greatly in symptoms and severity. They can be temporary or permanent and may be painless or painful. Some can be life threatening.

List of skin disorders
Acne
Acne is commonly locatedTrusted Source on the face, neck, shoulders, chest, and upper back.
Breakouts on the skin are composed of redness, blackheads, whiteheads, pimples, or deep, painful cysts and nodules.
This condition may leave scars or darken the skin if untreated.
People of Color can experience dark spots known as post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH).
Learn more about acne.

Cold sore
This condition causes a red, painful, fluid-filled blister that appears near the mouth and lips. People with lighter skin may notice more redness than those with darker skin.
The affected area will often tingle or burn before the sore is visible.
Outbreaks may also be accompanied by mild, flu-like symptoms such as low fever, body aches, and swollen lymph nodes.
Cold sores usually look similar on any skin color but can also cause PIH in people with darker skin.
Learn more about cold sores and cold sores on dark skin.

Blister
Blisters are characterized by a watery, clear, fluid-filled area on the skin.
They may be smaller than 1 centimeter (cm) (vesicle) or larger than 1 cm (bulla) and can occur alone or in groups.
Blisters can be found anywhere on the body.
Learn more about blisters.

Hives
This causes itchy, raised welts that occur after exposure to an allergen.
Welts may be warm and mildly painful to the touch.
Hives on darker skin can appear raised or inflamed and might be slightly darker or lighter than your natural skin color. On lighter skin, hives usually appear red.
They can be small, round, ring-shaped, or randomly shaped.
Learn more about hives.

Actinic keratosis
This condition causes a thick, scaly, or crusty skin patch.
It’s typically less than 2 cmTrusted Source or about the size of a pencil eraser.
It often appears on parts of the body that receive a lot of sun exposure, such as the hands, arms, face, scalp, and neck.
The skin patch is usually pink in color but can have a brown, tan, or gray base. This patch may appear the same color as the surrounding skin in people with darker skin.
Learn more about actinic keratosis.

Rosacea
This chronic skin disease goes through cycles of fading and relapse.
Relapses may be triggered by spicy foods, alcoholic beverages, sunlight, stress, and the intestinal bacteria Helicobacter pylori.
There are four subtypes of rosacea encompassing a wide variety of symptoms.
Common symptoms include facial flushing, raised red bumps, skin dryness, and skin sensitivity.
People with darker skin tones may notice brown discoloration or dry and swollen patches of dark skin.
Learn more about rosacea.

Carbuncle
This causes a red, painful, and irritated lump under your skin.
It may be accompaniedTrusted Source by fever, body aches, and fatigue.
It can also cause skin crustiness or oozing.
It may appear more violet on darker skin.
Learn more about carbuncles.

Latex allergy
This condition is considered a medical emergency. Urgent care may be required. Contact 911 or local emergency services.

This causes a rash, which may occur within minutes to hours after exposure to a latex product. It may be less visible on darker skin or appear lighter or darker than surrounding tissue.
It also causes warm, itchy wheals at the site of contact, which may take on a dry, crusted appearance with repeated exposure to latex.
Airborne latex particles may cause cough, runny nose, sneezing, and itchy, watery eyes.
A severe allergy to latex can cause swelling and difficulty breathing.
Learn more about latex allergies.

Eczema
Eczema is characterized by pink, red, brown, purple, or gray, sometimes with scaly patches that flake off.
Affected areas may be itchy, greasy, or oily.
On light skin, eczema can cause a red rash. This rash may appear brown, purple, or gray on darker skin.
Hair loss may also occur in the area with the rash.
Learn more about eczema.

Psoriasis
This causes scaly, silvery, sharply defined skin plaques. Darker-skinned people might also experience dark brown or purplish patches on the skin.
Patches are commonly located on the scalp, elbows, knees, and lower back.
This condition may be itchy or asymptomatic.
Learn more about psoriasis.

Cellulitis
Cellulitis is a medical emergency. A person should contact 911 or local emergency services if they have any symptoms of cellulitis.

Cellulitis is caused by bacteria or fungi enteringTrusted Source through a crack or cut in the skin.
It causes painful swollen skin with or without oozing that spreads quickly.
The skin might appear red on lighter skin. However, this may be less noticeable on darker skin tones.
The skin may feel hot and tender to the touch.
Fever, chills, and red streaking from the rash might be symptoms of a serious infection requiring medical attention.
Learn more about cellulitis.

Measles
Symptoms of measles include fever, sore throat, red or watery eyes, loss of appetite, cough, and runny nose.
It also causes a red rash, which spreads from the face down the body 3-5 daysTrusted Source after the first symptoms appear. This rash might be more difficult to see on darker skin.
Tiny red spots with blue-white centers may appear inside the mouth.
Measles may causeTrusted Source more obvious PIH in People of Color
Learn more about measles.

Basal cell carcinoma
It can cause dome-like, pink or red, shiny, and pearly areas that may have a sunk-in center, like a crater. For people with dark skin, it might appear darker and less pearly.
This condition is often characterized by raised, firm, and pale areas that may resembleTrusted Source a scar.
Blood vessels on the growth may be visible.
It might cause easy bleeding or an oozing wound that doesn’t seem to heal, or it heals and then reappears.
Learn more about basal cell carcinoma.

Squamous cell carcinoma
This condition often occursTrusted Source in areas exposed to ultraviolet (UV) radiation, such as the face, ears, and back of the hands.
It may be characterized by a scaly, reddish patch of skin, which progresses to a raised bump that continues to grow. The bump may be lighter on darker skin.
It can also cause a growth that bleeds easily, doesn’t heal, or heals and then reappears.
Learn more about squamous cell carcinoma.

Melanoma
This is the most seriousTrusted Source form of skin cancer, which is more common in people with light skin.
It can appear anywhere on the body as a mole that has irregularly shaped edges, asymmetrical shapes, and multiple colors. In People of Color, melanoma often appears in areas that are less exposed to the sun.
It might also appear as a mole that has changed color or gotten bigger over time, which is usually larger than a pencil eraser.
Learn more about melanoma.

Lupus
Lupus can cause the classic butterfly rash associated with the condition, which is a warm, brown, or red rash that spreads across the cheeks and bridge of the nose like butterfly wings and worsens in the sun.
Other types of lupus cause different symptoms. For example, discoid lupus can cause a scaly, disc-shaped rash that doesn’t itch or hurt. Cutaneous lupus erythematosus causes scaly red patches or ring shapes that are most commonly located on the shoulders, forearms, neck, and upper torso and worsen with exposure to sunlight. However, these types are less commonTrusted Source.
Other lupus symptoms includeTrusted Source fatigue, headaches, fever, and swollen or painful joints.
People of Color have a greater chanceTrusted Source of developing PIH and abnormal scarring.
Learn more about lupus.

Contact dermatitis
This condition appears hours to days after contact with an allergen.
It causes a rash with visible borders and appears where your skin has touched the irritating substance.
The skin may be itchy, scaly, or raw. Lighter skin can appear red, while darker skin may appear purple, gray, or dark brown.
It might also cause blisters that weep, ooze, or become crusty.
Learn more about contact dermatitis.

Vitiligo
Vitiligo is characterized by loss of pigment in the skin due toTrusted Source autoimmune destruction of the cells that give skin its color.
Focal vitiligo causes loss of skin color in only a few small areas, which may merge together.
Segmental pattern vitiligo causes depigmentation on one side of the body.
Vitiligo can also cause premature graying of the scalp or facial hair.
People of different skin tones will usually develop skin patches much lighter than their natural skin tone. In people with darker skin, it tends to be more noticeable, which may cause increased stigma related to the condition.
Learn more about vitiligo.

Wart
Warts are caused by many different types of a virus called the human papillomavirus (HPV).
They may be found on the skin or mucous membranes and can occur singly or in groups.
Warts are contagious and may be passed to others.
Learn more about warts.

Chickenpox
This can causeTrusted Source clusters of itchy, red or brown, fluid-filled blisters in various stages of healing all over the body.
The rash is accompanied by fever, body aches, sore throat, and loss of appetite.
Chickenpox remains contagious until all blisters have crusted over.
Chickenpox can be harder to see on darker skin.
Learn more about chickenpox.

Seborrheic eczema
This condition is characterized byTrusted Source yellow or white scaly patches that flake off.
Affected areas may be red, itchy, greasy, or oily.
People with darker skin may also notice hypopigmentation, or loss of skin color, in affected areas.
Hair loss may occur in the area with the rash.
Learn more about seborrheic eczema.

Keratosis pilaris
This common skin condition is most often seen on the arms and legs but might also occur on the face, buttocks, and trunk.
It often clears up on its own by age 30.
It often causes bumps of skin that appear bumpy, appear slightly red, and feel rough.
Symptoms may get worse in dry weather.
The hair follicles may look darker than the surrounding skin on darker skin. They’ll usually look red or purple on lighter skin.
Learn more about keratosis pilaris.

Ringworm
This condition causesTrusted Source circular, scaly rashes with a raised border.
Skin in the middle of the ring might appear clear and healthy, and the ring’s edges may spread outward.
The skin often feels itchy.
The ring is usually red or pink on light skin and brown or gray on darker skin.
Learn more about ringworm.

Melasma
This common skin condition causes dark patches to appear on the face and — rarely — the neck, chest, or arms.
Melasma is more common in pregnant people (chloasma) and individuals with a darker skin color or heavy sun exposure.
It might not cause other symptoms beyond skin discoloration.
It may go away on its own within a year or may become permanent.
Trusted SourceLearn more about melasma.

Impetigo
This condition is commonTrusted Source in babies and children.
It usually causes an irritating rash, which is often located in the area around the mouth, chin, and nose.
It might also cause fluid-filled blisters that pop easily and form a honey-colored crust.
It may be harder to see on darker skin.
Trusted SourceLearn more about impetigo.

What are lifelong skin conditions?
Some chronic skin conditions present from birth, while others appear suddenly later.

The cause of these disorders isn’t always known. Many permanent skin disorders have effective treatments that enable extended periods of remission. However, they’re incurable, and symptoms can reappear at any time.

Examples of chronic skin conditions include:

rosacea, which is characterized by small, pus-filled bumps on the face
psoriasis, which causes scaly, itchy, and dry plaques
vitiligo, which results in large, irregular patches of lighter skin
eczema, which causes itchy, red, dry, and irritated skin.

Skin disorders in children
Skin disorders are common in children. Children can experience many of the same skin conditions as adults. Infants and toddlers are also at risk of diaper-related skin problems.

Since children have more frequent exposure to other children and germs, they may also develop skin disorders that rarely occur in adults.

Many childhood skin problems disappear with age, but children can also inherit permanent skin disorders. In most cases, doctors can treat childhood skin disorders with topical creams, medicated lotions, or condition-specific drugs.

Common childhood skin disorders include:

eczema
diaper rash
seborrheic dermatitis
chickenpox
measles
warts
acne
fifth disease
hives
ringworm
rashes from bacterial or fungal infections
rashes from allergic reactions
Symptoms of skin disorders
Skin conditions have a wide range of symptoms. Symptoms on your skin that appear due to common problems aren’t always the result of a skin disorder. Such symptoms can include blisters from new shoes or chafing from tight pants.

However, skin problems with no obvious cause may indicate the presence of a skin disorder that requires treatment.

Skin irregularities that are typically symptoms of a skin disorder include:

raised bumps that are red or white
a rash, which might be painful or itchy
scaly or rough skin
peeling skin
ulcers
open sores or lesions
dry, cracked skin
discolored patches of skin
fleshy bumps, warts, or other skin growths
changes in mole color or size
a loss of skin pigment
excessive flushing

Causes of skin disorders
Common known causes of skin disorders includeTrusted Source:

bacteria trapped in skin pores and hair follicles
fungus, parasites, or microorganisms living on the skin
viruses
a weakened immune system
contact with allergens, irritants, or another person’s infected skin
genetic factors
illnesses affecting the thyroid, immune system, kidneys, and other body systems
Numerous health conditions and lifestyle factors can also lead to the development of certain skin disorders. Some skin conditions have no known cause.

Inflammatory bowel disease
Inflammatory bowel disease is a term for a group of intestinal disorders that cause prolonged inflammation of the digestive tract. These bowel-related disorders often cause skin problems.

Some rugs used to treat these diseases may increaseTrusted Source the chance of developing psoriasis.

Diabetes
Many people with diabetes experienceTrusted Source a skin problem due to their condition at some point.

Some of these skin disorders only affect people with diabetes. Others occur more frequently in people with diabetes because the disease increases the risk of infection and blood circulation problems.

Diabetes-related skin conditions include:

bacterial infections, such as boils, styes, and folliculitis
fungal infections, such as athlete’s foot, ringworm, and yeast infections
acanthosis nigricans
diabetic blisters
diabetic dermopathy
digital sclerosis
Lupus
Lupus is a chronic inflammatory disease that can damage the skin, joints, or organs inside the body. Common skin problems that occur from lupus includeTrusted Source:

a red, butterfly-shaped rash on the cheeks and nose
round lesions on the face and head
thick, red, scaly lesions
red, ring-shaped lesions on body parts exposed to sunlight
flat rash on the face and body that looks like a sunburn
vasculitis, which is red, purple, or black spots on the fingers and toes
sores inside the mouth and nose
tiny red spots on the legs
Pregnancy
Pregnancy causes significant changes in hormone levels that may lead to skin problems. Preexisting skin problems may change or get worse during pregnancy. Most skin conditions that arise during pregnancy go away after the baby is born. Others require medical attention during pregnancy.

Common skin conditions caused by pregnancy include:

stretch marks
melasma
pemphigoid
pruritic urticarial papules and plaques (polymorphic eruption of pregnancy)
eczema
Stress
Stress can causeTrusted Source hormonal imbalances, which may trigger or aggravate skin disorders. Stress-related skin problems include:

eczema
psoriasis
acne
rosacea
ichthyosis
vitiligo
hives
seborrheic dermatitis
alopecia areata
Sun
The sun can cause many different skin disorders. Some are common and harmless, while others are rare or life threatening. Knowing if the sun causes or worsens your skin disorder is important for treating it properly.

Sunlight exposure may cause or aggravate the following conditions:

moles
wrinkles
sunburn
actinic keratosis
skin cancer, including basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma
photosensitivity
Treating skin disorders
Many skin disorders are treatable. Common treatment methods for skin conditions include:

antihistamines
medicated creams and ointments
antibiotics
steroid injections
laser therapy
targeted prescription medications
biologics
Skin flare-ups
Not all skin disorders respond to treatment, and some conditions go away without treatment.

People with permanent skin conditions often go through periods of severe symptom flares. Sometimes people are able to force incurable conditions into remission. However, most skin conditions reappear due to certain triggers, such as stress or illness.

You can often treat skin disorders that are temporary and cosmetic with:

medicated makeup
over-the-counter (OTC) skin care products
good hygiene practices
small lifestyle adjustments, such as making certain dietary changes

Preventing skin disorders
Certain skin disorders aren’t preventable, including genetic conditions and some skin problems due to other illnesses. However, it’s possible to prevent some skin disorders.

Follow these tips to prevent infectious skin disorders:

Wash your hands with soap and warm water frequently.
Avoid sharing eating utensils and drinking glasses with other people.
Avoid direct contact with the skin of other people who have an infection.
Clean things in public spaces, such as gym equipment, before using them.
Don’t share personal items like blankets, hairbrushes, or swimsuits.
Sleep for at least 7 hours each night.
Drink plenty of water.
Avoid excessive physical or emotional stress.
Eat a nutritious diet.
Get vaccinated for infectious skin conditions, such as chickenpox.
Noncontagious skin disorders
Noninfectious skin disorders, such as acne and atopic dermatitis, are sometimes preventable. Prevention techniques vary depending on the condition. Here are some tips for preventing some noninfectious skin disorders:

Wash your face with a gentle cleanser and water every day.
Use moisturizer.
Avoid environmental and dietary allergens.
Avoid contact with harsh chemicals or other irritants.
Sleep for at least 7 hours each night, as many skin conditions can worsen due to lack of sleep.
Drink plenty of water.
Eat a balanced diet.
Protect your skin from excessive cold, heat, and wind.
Learning about proper skin care and treatment for skin disorders can be very important for skin health. Some conditions require a doctor’s attention, while you can address others safely at home.

You should learn about your symptoms or condition and talk with a doctor to determine the best treatment methods.

Frequently asked questions
What skin conditions affect mental health?
Having a skin condition can be distressing. You may experience itching or pain, and if the rash is visible, it can be distressing.

All this can have a negative impact on mental health. That said, researchers also believeTrusted Source there may be a biological link between stress and other psychological problems and skin symptoms such as acne, psoriasis, eczema, itching, hives, and more.

In addition, there are diseases, such as Lupus, that affect both the brain and the skin, causing both mood and skin-related symptoms.

What are the top 10 skin diseases?
According to a 2017 studyTrusted Source, the most common skin conditions in the United States are:

Other skin conditions
dermatitis
acne
viral skin diseases
psoriasis
fungal skin diseases
hives (urticaria)
nonspecific itchy skin (pruritus)
scabies
alopecia areata
The research article specifies that “other skin conditions” include:

sunburn
lice
fly and other infestations
pilonidal cyst
pemphigus
pemphigoid
lichen simplex chronicus
pityriasis rosea
lichen planus
erythema multiforme
erythema nodosum
What skin conditions cannot be cured?
A few examples of chronic skin conditions include rosacea, psoriasis, and vitiligo. While these conditions can’t be cured, there are treatments that can help manage symptoms.

Takeaway
Different types of conditions affect the skin. Some are chronic, while others are temporary. Some conditions may be painful or uncomfortable, but they’re not dangerous. Other conditions, such as skin cancer, can be life threatening.

The treatment for each depends on the specific cause. If you experience any new or unusual skin symptoms, it’s a good idea to have them evaluated by a doctor.