Skin Diseases: Types, Symptoms, Treatment and Prevention

Skin diseases refer to a broad group of disorders that affect the structure, function, or appearance of the skin. These conditions may develop due to genetic, infectious, allergic, or environmental factors. Early diagnosis and appropriate treatment are critical in preventing permanent skin damage.

Eczema and atopic dermatitis are chronic inflammatory conditions that occur with a weakened skin barrier. Characterized by itching, dryness, and redness, these conditions can be controlled by avoiding allergens and using moisturizers. Topical corticosteroids are added to treatment when necessary.

Acne vulgaris is a common skin condition that develops due to increased sebum production and follicular blockage. Although it is frequently seen during adolescence, it can persist into adulthood. Treatment is carried out with topical retinoids, antibacterial agents, and, when necessary, hormonal regulators.

Chronic skin diseases such as psoriasis and vitiligo are associated with the immune system and can affect quality of life. These conditions require long-term follow-up. Modern treatment approaches include biological agents and phototherapy methods.

Acne Treatment

Atopic Eczema (Atopic Dermatitis) Treatment

Behçet’s Disease Treatment

Contact Dermatitis Treatment

Pigmentation Treatment

Lichen Planus Treatment

Fungal Infection Treatment

Molluscum Contagiosum Treatments

Rosacea Treatment

Alopecia Areata Treatment

Seborrheic Dermatitis Treatment

Psoriasis Treatment

Wart Treatment

What are the Types of Skin Diseases?

Although there are thousands of different skin diseases, as dermatologists, when approaching diagnosis and treatment, we generally consider these diseases under three main headings according to the underlying causes. This helps us understand the source of the problem: is it an error of the immune system, an unwelcome microbe, or uncontrolled cell proliferation?

Inflammatory Conditions: This is the largest and most commonly encountered group. Essentially, the body’s immune system gives an excessive or incorrect response. The body’s defense mechanism initiates inflammation against its own skin cells or against substances that are normally harmless, as if fighting an enemy. This leads to bothersome symptoms on the skin. Common diseases in this group include:

• Atopic Dermatitis (Eczema)
• Psoriasis
• Acne Vulgaris
• Rosacea
• Urticaria (Hives)
• Lichen Planus
• Autoimmune blistering diseases (such as Pemphigus)

Infectious Conditions: This group arises from invasion of the skin by various microorganisms. A small cut or crack in the skin’s protective barrier may open a door for these microbes to enter. Each type of microbe causes a specific infection, and treatment is carried out with drugs that directly target that microbe. Common types of infections include:

• Bacterial (Impetigo, Cellulitis, Folliculitis)
• Viral (Herpes, Warts, Shingles)
• Fungal (Tinea, Candidiasis)
• Parasitic (Scabies, Lice)

Neoplastic (Tumoral) Conditions: This category includes masses—i.e., tumors—formed by abnormal and uncontrolled proliferation of skin cells. These growths can be benign or malignant. Benign ones are generally harmless, whereas malignant ones are called skin cancer, and early diagnosis is vital. Lesions in this group include:

• Benign (Moles, Seborrheic Keratoses, Lipomas)
• Premalignant (Actinic Keratosis)
• Malignant / Skin Cancers (Basal Cell Carcinoma, Squamous Cell Carcinoma, Malignant Melanoma)

How does a dermatologist manage the Skin Disease Diagnosis process?

Reaching the correct diagnosis is like detective work. The process involves piecing together clues based on the patient’s story and, when necessary, using advanced technological tools to solve the mystery:

First and foremost, we start by listening to you. The history of your complaint is half the diagnosis. When did it start, how did it progress, are there sensations such as itching or pain, and which parts of the body are affected—these details are very important. Then a careful physical examination is performed. During this examination, not only the area you are complaining about is evaluated, but your entire skin, hair, and nails are also examined. Sometimes a small lesion in one part of the body may herald a larger problem elsewhere.

As part of the examination, a lighted magnifier called a dermoscope is used. Thanks to this tool, by examining the patterns and structures beneath the surface of the skin, we obtain highly valuable information about the nature of moles and skin cancers in particular. It allows us to determine with high accuracy whether a lesion that looks suspicious to the naked eye is actually harmless—or vice versa.

If a fungal infection is suspected, taking a small scraping from the skin and examining it under a microscope (KOH test) can allow us to make a diagnosis within seconds. However, in some cases—especially if skin cancer is suspected or the diagnosis is uncertain—the most definitive method, a skin biopsy, is used. This is the process of numbing a small area with local anesthesia and taking a tiny piece of tissue for examination. The type of biopsy is selected according to the suspected condition.

• Shave Biopsy
• Punch Biopsy
• Excisional Biopsy

Sometimes additional tests such as blood tests to investigate skin findings of systemic diseases like lupus, or patch testing to identify the cause of allergic reactions, may be required.

What are the Symptoms of Eczema and how is it treated?

Eczema, or Atopic Dermatitis in medical terms, is a chronic and very itchy skin condition commonly seen especially in childhood. An eczematous skin can be likened to a wall with missing mortar. If skin cells are bricks, the fats and proteins (mortar) that hold these bricks together and form the skin’s protective barrier are deficient. Therefore, the skin easily loses its moisture (it is constantly dry) and becomes vulnerable to allergens and irritants from the outside. This leads the immune system to overreact, causing those familiar eczema flares.

The most typical symptoms of eczema are:

• Intense itching (especially increasing at night)
• Dryness and flaking of the skin
• Redness and inflammation
• Small, oozing blisters (in the acute phase)
• Thickening and accentuation of skin lines (due to chronic scratching)
• Age-specific distribution (cheeks in infants; flexural areas in children and adults)

The main goal of eczema treatment is to break this cycle, strengthen the skin barrier, and control inflammation. This is a team effort, and patient adherence is very important. The treatment plan generally includes the following steps:

• Generous and regular use of moisturizers as basic care
• Avoiding triggers (harsh soaps, woolen clothing, excessively hot water)
• Topical corticosteroid creams to suppress inflammation during flares
• Steroid-free topical creams (calcineurin inhibitors) for sensitive areas (face, armpits)
• Phototherapy (light therapy) in severe cases
• Systemic medications (oral or injectable) in treatment-resistant situations
• Newly developed targeted biological agents and JAK inhibitors

What are the Symptoms of Psoriasis and how is it treated?

Psoriasis is a non-contagious, chronic immune system disease. In this condition, the immune system gives a false alarm and signals skin cells to proliferate excessively fast. Normally, the process of a skin cell maturing and shedding takes about a month, whereas in patients with psoriasis, this cycle drops to 3–4 days. This rapid production causes immature cells to accumulate on the skin surface, forming the typical red plaques covered with silvery-white scales.

The most common symptoms of psoriasis are:

• Well-demarcated red plaques
• Silvery-white, easily shedding scales on the plaques
• Itching, burning, or pain
• Most commonly located on the knees, elbows, scalp, and sacral area
• Pitting, thickening, or discoloration in the nails

In some patients, joint pain and swelling (Psoriatic Arthritis)

There are several triggers that can cause psoriasis to flare:

• Stress
• Infections (especially throat infections)
• Skin trauma (cuts, scratches, sunburn)
• Certain medications
• Excessive alcohol consumption
• Smoking

Although there is no definitive cure for psoriasis, it is possible to completely control symptoms and significantly improve patients’ quality of life with modern treatment methods available today. Treatment is personalized according to the severity and extent of the disease.

Topical Treatments: In mild cases, corticosteroid creams, vitamin D analogs, and retinoids are used.

Phototherapy (Light Therapy): An effective option for those with widespread disease.

Systemic Treatments: In severe cases, traditional oral medications such as methotrexate and cyclosporine are used.

Biological Agents: These injection therapies, developed in recent years and targeting immune system molecules directly responsible for the disease (TNF-alpha, IL-17, IL-23), have revolutionized the treatment of moderate-to-severe psoriasis.

What are the main differences between Acne and Rosacea?

Although acne and rosacea are two different diseases with completely different mechanisms, both can appear on the face and affect quality of life. The most fundamental difference is that acne is a blockage disease of the pilosebaceous unit, whereas rosacea is based on vascular hypersensitivity and inflammation.

Acne usually begins with adolescence. A “perfect storm” forms inside the hair follicles. The main factors forming this storm are:

• Increased sebum (oil) production
• Blockage of the follicular canal by dead skin cells (comedone formation)
• Proliferation of the bacterium Cutibacterium acnes in this blocked environment
• Inflammatory reaction against the bacterium

Comedones (blackheads and whiteheads) are indispensable for acne. In rosacea, however, comedones are not seen. Acne treatment targets these four factors and, depending on severity, ranges from topical creams to oral antibiotics, hormonal therapies, and oral isotretinoin.

Rosacea usually begins after the 30s and concentrates on the central face. It is characterized by the skin’s excessive reaction to various environmental factors. The main features of rosacea are:

• Sudden facial flushing and heat sensation
• Persistent facial redness
• Visible fine capillaries (telangiectasia)
• Pimple-like red bumps and inflammatory pustules (but without comedones)
• Swelling and sensitivity of the skin
• Nasal enlargement in advanced cases (rhinophyma)
• Burning, stinging, dryness in the eyes (ocular rosacea)

There are many triggers that exacerbate rosacea:

• Sunlight
• Hot and cold weather
• Wind
• Hot beverages
• Spicy foods
• Alcohol
• Emotional stress
• Intense exercise

Management of rosacea primarily involves avoiding these triggers and adopting a gentle skincare routine. In treatment, topical and oral medications are used for inflammatory lesions, while technologies such as laser and light systems are employed for persistent redness and visible capillaries.

What are the Types of Skin Cancer and which symptoms should be noted?

Skin cancers are the most common among all cancers, and when diagnosed early, treatment success is extremely high. Therefore, it is vital to examine your skin regularly and consult a dermatologist immediately if you notice any suspicious changes. There are three main types of skin cancer.

• Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC): The most common type. It grows slowly and has a very low risk of metastasis (spreading). It is usually seen in sun-exposed areas such as the head and neck as a shiny, pink, pearly bump or a non-healing sore.
• Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC): The second most common type. It usually appears in sun-exposed areas as a red, scaly, crusted lesion or a firm nodule. It can grow faster than BCC and carries a low but present risk of spreading.
• Malignant Melanoma: The rarest but most dangerous type of skin cancer. It develops from melanocyte cells that give the skin its color. If not detected early, it can rapidly spread to other organs. It often presents as a newly formed spot or changes in an existing mole.

You can use the ABCDE rule to assess whether a mole or spot is suspicious for melanoma. This is a practical guide for self-skin examination.

• A – Asymmetry: If one half of the mole does not match the other.
• B – Border: If the edges are irregular, notched, or rough.
• C – Color: If the color is variegated (brown, black, red, white, blue tones together).
• D – Diameter: Generally larger than 6 millimeters.
• E – Evolution: If there is a change over time in size, shape, color, or sensation.

Any lesion that exhibits one or more of these features should definitely be evaluated by a dermatologist. The main treatment for skin cancers is the complete surgical removal of the lesion. In advanced cases, modern methods such as immunotherapy and targeted therapies are used.

What should be considered to prevent skin diseases?

Prevention or control of many skin diseases is possible through proper lifestyle habits and conscious skincare. Preventive measures play a major role, especially in the management of skin cancer and chronic inflammatory diseases.

Sun protection is the most important investment you can make for skin health. This should be a year-round habit, not only during summer or vacations. The key steps of an effective sun protection strategy are:

• Try to stay in the shade during the hours when the sun is strongest (10:00–16:00).
• Wear a wide-brimmed hat.
• Use UV-protective sunglasses.
• Choose tightly woven, long-sleeved clothing.
• Use a broad-spectrum (UVA+UVB protective) sunscreen with at least SPF 30.
• Apply sunscreen generously to all exposed areas 20 minutes before going outside.
• Reapply every two hours and after sweating or swimming.
• Absolutely avoid tanning beds.

For particularly sensitive and disease-prone skin types such as eczema and rosacea, an appropriate skincare routine is key to preventing flares and improving comfort. This routine does not have to be complicated; on the contrary, simplicity is often best.

• Wash your skin with gentle, soap-free, fragrance-free cleansers.
• Avoid hot water; prefer lukewarm water.
• Pat your skin dry gently with a towel, do not rub.
• When your skin is slightly damp, apply a barrier-repairing, hypoallergenic, and fragrance-free moisturizer.
• Avoid irritating ingredients such as alcohol, fragrance, and menthol.
• Before starting a new product, test it on a small area of your skin (e.g., inner arm).