Chronic skin diseases

What are chronic skin diseases?

The umbrella term skin diseases refers to various abnormal changes to the skin. The skin is the largest organ in our body due to its large surface area and is generally the first barrier for pathogens, making skin diseases relatively common.

In medical terms, there is always a distinction between acute and chronic diseases. Generally, a disease is considered chronic if it persists for a period of at least six months. Depending on the clinical picture and source of literature, however, this time period can be very variable.

Chronic skin diseases are a highly diverse group of various diseases. In general, they can appear all over the body and in varying degrees of severity. They are therefore subdivided into malignant and benign diseases. Malignant diseases are also known as cancers.

What chronic skin diseases exist?

The skin can be affected by many chronic illnesses, which is why this article will concentrate on the most common clinical pictures. They will be briefly explained in the following.

Neurodermatitis and allergic reactions

Neurodermatitis or atopic dermatitis is among the most common chronic inflammatory diseases of the skin. It usually starts in childhood, then improves during puberty and then reappears in phases in adulthood. Patients experience itchy, dry skin with local inflammatory reactions (eczema).

Allergic reactions play an important role in atopic dermatitis in many cases. As a result, the skin reacts falsely to certain substances by triggering an immune response, which leads to inflammatory reactions. Such substances, also known as allergens, can include textiles, sweat or certain skin products.

Skin tumors

The medical term tumor generally describes a swelling, in this case of the skin. Tumors can be either benign or malignant tissue formations. For example, benign tumors of the skin are fatty tumors, so-called lipomas, warts or keloids.

Keloids arise from excessive growth of connective tissue as a result of impaired wound healing and occur after scarring. The tissue then often extends past the boundaries of the original skin injury. Patients often complain of itching in the area of the keloids.

Cancers of the skin

Malignant tumors of the skin are referred to as cancer. According to the tissue from which the cancer cells have developed, we distinguish between squamous cell carcinomas, basal cell carcinomas and malignant melanomas. All these diseases cause changes in the skin, but have the potential to spread to other tissues and form metastases there.

Cancers of other tissues may also spread to the skin. These include, for example, lymphomas or Kaposi's sarcoma, which can develop in the course of HIV infections.

Psoriasis

Psoriasis is one of the forms of rheumatic diseases and has a strong genetic factor. In some areas, the skin is very red and covered with silvery, shiny, dry scales. The typical locations are the outside of the extremities, the scalp or the anal area. The nails are also affected in many cases.

Acne

Acne is a frequent disease of the sebaceous glands and hair follicles. It mostly appears during puberty in the form of so-called "blackheads" (comedones) or pustules. Acne is predominantly present where sebaceous glands are most abundant, such as on the forehead, cheeks or chin. It can also be found on areas other than the face.

What causes chronic skin diseases?

There are many different causes leading to chronic skin diseases. In the majority of cases, the interplay of various factors is responsible for the disease to develop.

For many skin diseases, genetic factors play a key role and the clinical picture runs in families. Some examples are malignant melanoma, psoriasis and neurodermatitis. The likelihood of developing atopic dermatitis doubles if a single parent is affected and even triples if both parents are affected.

The genetic predisposition on its own usually only forms the foundation for the disease to emerge but usually other factors need to contribute. These so-called trigger factors can include infections, medication, hormonal fluctuations or stress, for example.

Even increased exposure to the sun can damage the skin in the long term. People with light skin types, for example, are at a higher risk of developing skin cancer than those with darker skin types. This is due to an increased tendency to get sunburns.

How can a doctor diagnose chronic skin diseases?

Patients who suffer from chronic skin diseases often experience itching, dry skin and redness. They usually consult a dermatologist for a diagnosis. The first step is always to take a medical history and carry out a detailed physical examination.

The medical history includes questions about current or past symptoms and the course of the disease. In addition, a family history, which includes the occurrence of illnesses in close relatives, is also part of the diagnostic process.

A physical examination follows, consisting of a detailed inspection of the skin. The skin of the entire body should always be examined. Dermatologists have a well-trained view of the skin and can usually classify the various skin symptoms without further diagnostics.

Based on the suspected diagnosis, additional examinations may follow. Sometimes samples of the skin symptoms are also taken and subsequently analyzed in the laboratory for a final diagnosis.

How are chronic skin diseases treated?

Because chronic skin diseases are a highly diverse group of conditions, the methods of treatment also vary. The therapy should generally focus on the cause. As the symptoms of chronic skin conditions such as itching or pain on contact can be very unpleasant, symptomatic treatment methods must also be considered. Patients can benefit from special creams or ointments to provide relief.

However, as chronic skin diseases are often promoted by an excessive reaction of the immune system, preparations containing cortisone can be used in therapy. Cortisone reduces inflammation and is used to improve the symptoms of neurodermatitis or psoriasis. As cortisone always has side effects, however, it should be carefully considered and excessive use should be avoided.

The treatment of chronic skin diseases also includes medication that not only alleviates the symptoms but also helps to combat the cause. This includes, for example, laboratory-produced antibodies that can influence various processes at cellular level. So-called immunosuppressants, that inhibit excessive immune reactions, also act at this level.

For benign or malignant skin tumors, surgery is often the treatment of choice. Complete removal of the tumor and subsequent histological examination often combines diagnosis and therapy.

Radiotherapy is also used in the treatment of chronic skin diseases. Ionizing radiation can be administered to prevent cells from growing. For instance, in the case of a keloid, excessive growth of connective tissue cells is inhibited.

In the case of cancer, radiotherapy is one of the most important treatment options alongside surgical removal and chemotherapy. This is why it is also used for various skin cancers to inhibit the growth of degenerated cancer cells.

Which doctors and clinics specialize in the treatment of chronic skin diseases?

Chronic skin diseases often place a great burden on the patient due to the unpleasant symptoms and appearance of the skin. This is why detailed diagnosis and treatment by experienced specialists is so important. In many cases, interdisciplinary cooperation between dermatologists, surgeons, pathologists, oncologists and radiologists is essential.

We have carefully evaluated and selected all the specialists listed here. All of them have extensive experience in the diagnosis and treatment of chronic skin diseases. Take advantage of their expertise and schedule your first consultation directly.