Warts and verrucas are caused by a harmless viral infection in the skin called the human papilloma virus (HPV). HPV causes keratin, a hard protein in the top layer of the skin, to grow too much, giving the typical roughened texture of a wart. There are more than 60 different types of viruses known to cause warts; this includes genital warts. They are increasingly common through childhood and adolescence but then their frequency drops drastically again on reaching adulthood. Warts often look different depending on where they are on the body and how thick the skin is, and a wart on the sole of the foot is called a verruca. What do they look like? Warts on the hands are found most frequently around the nails and on the fingers and are often shaped like a cauliflower, whereas verrucas are seen most commonly on the ball of the foot as areas of flat, thicker skin with a harder edge around a softer center.
It’s very common for babies to suffer from dry skin and eczema, and it can first emerge before or around 6 months. It affects about a quarter of children with up to 60% of them developing it during their first year of life. The exact cause of eczema is unknown but genetics are thought to play a major role, so it’s more common if someone in your family has eczema, allergies, or asthma, or if they have light skin and hair. It may also be triggered by environmental factors such as central heating, hard water and the use of soaps. The good news is that even though children may develop eczema in childhood, it doesn’t necessarily mean they will have it forever as many of them grow out of it by 5-6 years old. And - with the right attention to triggers, moisturizing routine and recognition of flare-ups - it can be treated more effectively.
Monkeypox is a relatively rare disease that entered common public knowledge in 2022 as an outbreak spread within the US. Cases are usually restricted to Africa, and it usually causes only a mild illness. Monkeypox is a virus from the same family as smallpox, a devastating condition that has been defeated worldwide. It's very different from the COVID-19 or chickenpox viruses. It is called monkeypox because it was first discovered in monkeys in 1958. It took 10 years for the first cases to be recorded in humans, and the most likely transmission is still from animals to humans rather than human to human. There are two strains, one from western Africa and one from central Africa. The cases in the US are the western African strain, which causes a milder illness. Although monkeypox was declared a public health emergency in the US in August 2022, most people are not severely unwell. Still, scientists are investigating why it seems to be spreading more quickly from human to human than previously. One working theory is that now that COVID-19 restrictions have been lifted, people are traveling more but have lost some natural immunity to fight viruses during the prolonged period of lockdowns and mask-wearing.
Molluscum contagiosum are small protruding, smooth, shiny bumps, often flesh-colored or pink/red, and distinguished by the dip in the center of their tip. If squeezed (and we advise not), a semi-solid substance may ooze out. This is not recommended as this liquid contains the molluscum virus that causes the bumps, and as these are highly contagious, squeezing risks spreading to other parts of the body or gifting to friends and loved ones. Molluscum is common and usually seen in children. It causes no harm, but parents or sufferers may be bothered by the appearance, and occasionally, a molluscum may become itchy and irritated, or even infected with bacteria.
A mole is usually a mid- or dark-brown flat mark (a junctional nevus), or a dome-shaped brown or flesh-colored bump (a dermal nevus). It should be neither itchy nor bothersome. You may have numerous moles, and they may run in your family. They may have been present for as long as you can remember, or since birth, although new moles can appear throughout childhood and even into your 20s, especially after recent sun exposure. People with certain skin types, such as those with pale skin, blue eyes, and red or blond hair, and who are likely to easily sunburn, are likely to be more at risk of concerning changes to moles.
Milia is a condition described by tiny pearly-white bumps on the skin under the eyes. These are little cysts (or sacks) containing a hard semi-solid protein called keratin. There may be one, two, or a few, and they usually cause no symptoms except that people become self-conscious about their appearance. They are entirely harmless, they need no treatment, and most disappear within a few months (although new ones may form in time). What causes milia? In adults, these may form in response to recent sunburn or from skin damage, such as from burns or unusual skin conditions. They appear in up to half of newborn babies, appearing around the eyes, nose, and across the cheeks and clearing up a short while later.
A shingles rash is caused by a virus called herpes zoster and starts as tiny red bumps or blotches that become weeping blisters (known as vesicles). This often appears on the chest, back, stomach, neck, or face. People sometimes notice a tingling or burning in the days before the rash appears and may have a headache, mild fever, or feel otherwise unwell. It is distinctive in that it will only appear on one half of the body and usually only covers a small area. This virus was originally caught as chickenpox (varicella-zoster virus), usually in childhood. While your body recovers from this, the virus lays asleep, or dormant, in the nerves and is reactivated under stress or illness, usually in those over 60 years old. Following the pathway of nerves means the virus is only activated from the nerves leading off the spine to one side or the other - a so-called dermatomal distribution.
Dermatitis (sometimes also called eczema) simply means inflammation of the skin, and so contact dermatitis is the name used when this inflammation is caused by direct or indirect contact of the skin with something in your environment that it reacts to. What causes contact dermatitis? There are two main types of contact dermatitis: Irritant contact dermatitis.** This type develops when the skin comes into contact with things that irritate the skin, such as detergents or very hot water that strip the skin of its natural oils and so dry it out. If you have regular contact with these you can then get an irritant dermatitis. This means it’s common in people who put their hands in water a lot, such as nurses, hairdressers, and cleaners. This type of contact dermatitis is more likely to happen in people who have suffered from childhood eczema. Allergic contact dermatitis.** This type occurs when you develop an allergy to a specific substance that’s been in contact with your skin. Common examples of these include hair dye, cosmetics, and perfumes. It’s unclear why some people who are exposed to these develop dermatitis while others don’t but unlike irritant dermatitis, contact dermatitis doesn’t seem to be more likely in people who had eczema when young. What are the symptoms of contact dermatitis? The commonest symptom is itching of the skin, and this can be very intense and to a level where you can’t stop scratching it. The skin can also become sore and red, with blisters developing that can weep. In contact dermatitis of the hands, there may be painful cracking of the skin that can make it difficult to use your hands normally. The hands are the commonest area where contact dermatitis occurs, followed by the arms, neck and face.
A cold sore is a small blister on the face that is caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV). The blister pops and then gets a crust over it. Some people experience tingling or burning before the blister appears, and it can be painful. They are very common, with many people suffering from repeated cold sores. They usually heal by themselves between 7 and 10 days. Most people are infected with the virus when they are young but may not get a cold sore until many years later. Once infected, the virus stays within you and can be reactivated and cause other cold sores at future points. This is usually around times of stress, tiredness, menstruation, illness, or some people find the sun can cause outbreaks. Genital herpes and cold sores are caused by the same virus, although there are two different strains (HSV1 and HSV2). It's not really important which one is causing trouble, as treatment is based on symptoms. If you have symptoms in your genital area, see your doctor or a sexual health doctor to discuss this.
Angular cheilitis is a condition that mainly affects the corners of the mouth rather than the rest of the lips. The main symptoms include swelling and redness, blistering, and crusting or cracking in the corners of the mouth. It may be painful and can be caused by a number of factors. Some forms of angular cheilitis may be caused by sweat and saliva build-up. This causes changes in pH on the skin and can lead to a fungal infection in the corners of the mouth. There can also be bacterial or viral infection present. It is usually bilateral and symmetrical, although occasionally it may affect one side of the mouth only and may sometimes spread to cause impetigo or oral thrush.
Vitiligo occurs when pigment (melanin) is lost from areas of skin, leaving behind white patches. The patches can grow in size and merge. These patches may be a little itchy but are not otherwise bothersome. The main complaint is the appearance of these patches, and the loss of self-confidence that comes with it. This requires specialist attention to treat, with the aim of stopping new patches from forming. If it's caught early enough, there's the possibility of reversing white areas to allow pigment to gradually come back. For this reason, it's important to see your doctor.
Actinic keratoses (or solar keratoses) are small red, flaky marks on your skin in response to long-term sun damage. They appear many years after sun exposure on sun-exposed areas such as the top of the forehead or crown of the head, tops of ears, forearms, hands, and lower legs. They feel like rough patches or sandpaper, and yellow or orange scales can appear that resemble tiny cornflakes. The surrounding skin may be pink or red, and there might be other evidence of sun damage, such as deep wrinkles, large freckles, or brown blotches. They don't usually cause any symptoms beyond a mild itch or soreness, but some people feel self-conscious that they look unsightly.