Your skin is your body’s largest defense against disease and contamination. Rain or shine, it puts up with exposure to germs, bacteria, UV rays, allergens and more. As a result, it’s rare for anyone to make it through life without developing experiencing a common skin condition.

As an online dermatology practice, Tennessee Telederm frequently treats these common skin conditions through video appointments. If you’re waiting for your appointment and have questions about a skin condition, we hope this article will help you learn more about the health of your skin.

Acne

Anyone over the age of 13 has more than likely experienced some type of acne. Acne is the most common skin condition that people experience. Thankfully, because it is so common, there are many treatments available.

Acne often occurs during the teenage years, but breakouts can continue throughout the lifespan. Some cases of acne can be treated with over-the-counter medications, but they don’t always work for everyone.

Serious cases of acne are better treated by prescription medications that address the causes of acne, inflammation.  But you must also maintain good hygiene and wash your face regularly to get the best results.

However, your skin’s natural makeup may need more specialized attention. When you set up an appointment with Tennessee Telederm, we will discuss your skin’s unique properties in detail. From there, we will help you build a personalized treatment plan to get you the best results.

Bacterial Skin Infections

The most common bacterial skin infections are caused by either Staphylococcus or streptococcus. When these bacteria find ways to slip under the skin, they cause infections that can appear as boils, abscesses or even just redness and swelling.

We can help you identify these types of infections and write a prescription for the appropriate medicine. If your infection is more serious or develops into a condition like cellulitis, we can help you. However, if you develop a fever with an abscess or boil, you should seek treatment in the ER or urgent care immediately.

HSV 1 & 2

Herpes Simplex Virus, also known as HSV, is a common skin condition that many people experience. HSV 1 usually causes skin issues such as cold sores. It’s also typically called oral herpes. Usually, it shows up as a blister or series of blisters around your mouth. HSV spreads quite easily, so you shouldn’t pick at the sores if you don’t want them to spread.  HSV 2 occurs in the pelvic region and can also be easily treated.

If you have an HSV infection, make an appointment with Tennessee Telederm and we can get you on the road to improvement.   

Fungal Infections

Tinea

There are several types of fungal infections which include tinea and candida infections. Also known as ringworm, tinea infections can appear anywhere on the body as an itchy, circular, discolored patch of skin. These patches may also appear scaly and can lead to hair loss if it occurs on the scalp. Tinea is also the fungus that causes athlete’s foot and jock itch.

If you need treatment for a tinea infection, you can buy an over-the-counter anti-fungal cream. So long as you regularly apply the medicine, your symptoms should improve within two weeks.

However, if your symptoms do not get better, or get worse, you should make an appointment with your doctor in order to give you a more specific diagnosis. Because tinea is easy to identify, we are happy to examine and identify your symptoms through our secure video chat.

Tinea can also infect your toenails. And because dermatology involves treating hair, skin and nails, we are happy to help you find answers for your current skin conditions.

Candida Infections

Other fungal infections include yeast infections, caused by the fungus candida. These infections occur in moist, warm, and high-friction areas of the body, such as the armpits and around the groin. It can also occur in the mouth. Thankfully, these infections are easy to treat with Tennessee Telederm.

Rosacea

The most common symptom of rosacea is redness. Particularly around the nose and cheeks where you might be more prone to flushing. In fact, rosacea is commonly mistaken for naturally occurring ruddiness and even acne.

We can treat rosacea with a variety of topical preparations. If your symptoms are more severe, you may need oral medication.

Eczema

Also known as atopic dermatitis, eczema shows up as red, dry and itchy skin. Some cases may develop bumps and swelling while the skin becomes scaly and patchy. There is no permanent cure for eczema, but consistent self-care and medication should significantly improve your symptoms. 

If left untreated, eczema can become increasingly uncomfortable. You should especially seek help if your eczema develops a secondary infection.

Dermatitis

Any other type of moderate skin irritation usually falls under the umbrella of dermatitis. This also includes mild cases of eczema, irritant contact dermatitis (poison ivy), rashes, blisters, and any type of crusty or flaky skin. It can also occur within the hairline, causing dandruff in the case of seborrheic dermatitis.

Warts

Caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), warts are a common and harmless raised bump that can appear anywhere on the body. Typically, the most common warts occur on the hands and feet. If warts are picked at, the virus can spread across your hands and even to your face. 

Certain strains of HPV are more concerning as they can cause cervical, anorectal, and head and neck cancers. Tennessee TeleDerm can provide counseling regarding these risks and a variety of options for treating genital warts.

It’s also possible to develop warts from contact with someone who does not have warts. Every person’s immune system reacts differently to HPV. As a result, someone whose skin does not react to HPV may transfer the virus to someone else whose skin does react.

Two other types of warts are plantar warts and flat warts. A plantar wart is a type of wart on your foot that grows into your skin. If you’ve never had a plantar wart, they might be confused with calluses, except for the tiny black pinpricks at their center. These are small clotted blood vessels that have been trapped in the wart.

Typically, treatment for warts involves either using topical medications like salicylic acid or other peeling medicines to remove warts. At Tennessee Telederm we can prescribe you medicine through an online appointment.

Skin Discoloration

Two common skin discoloration conditions we treat at Tennessee Telederm are melasma and poikiloderma. Melasma is also known as sun damage and appears as greyish-brown spots on your face across your forehead, cheeks, upper lip and nose. Sun exposure is the main cause of melasma, and therefore the main treatment is using a quality sunscreen.

Poikiloderma, on the other hand, is a condition caused by sun damage and many other factors. This condition causes brownish-red spots to form on your skin in areas exposed to sunlight. Your skin also will appear more worn and begin to atrophy or thin out.

You may not notice your symptoms developing all at once. Poikiloderma appears subtly at first, but the symptoms will develop more as time goes on.

Online Dermatology Care for Common Skin Conditions

Telehealth has made accessing quality skincare convenient and easy. With Tennessee Telederm, you can schedule an appointment that fits with your schedule, avoid traffic, and avoid waiting in a doctor’s office. We’re happy and excited to help you find easy treatments for common skin conditions.

So, to get help taking care of your skin, hair and nails, visit our Get Started page and set up your appointment today.