Fungal infection of the scalp usually affects children under 10 years old, although more rarely, it may affect older children and adults. The medical terms are tinea capitis, where the scalp is infected, and tinea barbae, where the beard or mustache are infected. It can cause itching and patchy hair loss, with ring-shaped areas of redness and flakiness. Yellow crusts may form if left untreated, and this may cause hair to become matted. Hair loss is usually temporary until it's treated, but the appearance can cause distress, and the scalp can feel very itchy and a bit sore, if left untreated.

Hydrocortisone cream is a short-term steroid cream used to treat different causes of skin inflammation. The cream can be used to treat eczema, heat rash, and insect bites, as well as many other inflammatory skin conditions. The strength of the products ranges up to 2.5%, although the maximum strength found over the counter is 1%. There are three main formulations of hydrocortisone: cream, ointment, and lotion.

Melanoma (also known as malignant melanoma) is the most serious type of skin cancer caused by sun exposure. It's serious because the cancer can spread to other organs in the body, so it needs prompt identification and treatment. You can take steps to prevent it, but also keep a watch for any moles or other skin marks that are new, changing or don't look like your other moles. Melanoma is the 5th most common cancer in the US, with almost 100,000 new cases each year. The number of cases has doubled in the last 30 years, and it can occur at any age.

Psoriasis is a long-term condition that causes thickened patches on the skin. It may only affect the scalp, or you might have other patches on your body. It can be intensely itchy and, in a mild form, may cause red patches, usually at the back of the head and extending to the neck or behind the ears. In a more severe form, thickened plaque may cause temporary hair loss, which requires stronger and more prolonged treatment.

We have all had that important date on the calendar coming up, and a day or so before, what happens – our skin breaks out. Many different things in our day-to-day life can affect how our skin reacts. Some in the short term and others over the long term. Here the Healthwords medical team takes a look at some of these lifestyle factors in detail that can contribute to changes in your skin.

Maskne is a new phenomenon coined in the COVID-19 pandemic to describe the acne experienced around the nose, upper lip, and chin area in a response to regularly wearing a mask. Mask-provoked acne is new to the general public but has long been experienced by medical and construction workers. The causes of these pimples, or whiteheads, are two-fold. First, the physical barrier that masks provide causes pores to become blocked with the dead skin cells we shed all the time, so-called acne mechanica. A bacteria associated with acne, called P. acnes, causes inflammation in blocked pores and sebaceous (oil-forming) glands. In addition to the physical friction, masks provide a warm, moist environment for P. acnes to grow and multiply, thus further inflaming the spots and even causing deep spots called cysts. As mask-wearing has become an important component of avoiding the virus in the current pandemic and essential in certain aspects of life, including in shops, public transport, and some workplaces and schools, maskne is a fact of life many of us need to adjust to. Simple measures can reduce physical irritation. If you want to wear a single-use mask, choose one with a structure that lifts away from the mouth and nose and seals around the edges. These look a bit like beaks. Choosing silk over other materials for reusable masks may cause less friction and irritation and be more breathable while still offering protection. You should make sure you wash these regularly. Regular and gentle cleansing can help to reduce skin congestion and clogged pores. Wearing make-up that claims to be non-comedogenic (non-spot-forming) and looking for chemical exfoliants in creams and serums, such as salicylic acid, glycolic acid, and lactic acid, will all help to keep spots at bay. You can also buy targeted spot treatments from your pharmacist to help with individual blemishes.