Any condition or injury affecting the skin’s layers is considered as a skin disorder. There are many types of skin problems, and for years scientists have studied how these come up and how to best treat them.

Everyone can be affected by skin disorders and unfortunately, age and gender have no any bearing on who will be affected by these conditions. Learning about skin problems and how they can be treated or prevented can be very beneficial for long term skin health.

Skin disorders are typically categorized into five types:

• Inflammatory

• Viral

• Bacterial

• Fungal

• Cancer

An inflammatory skin disorder is characterized by inflammation and irritation of the skin. One of the most common types of inflammatory skin disorders is acne which is prevalent among teenagers, and sometimes continues on into adulthood. Acne develops due to blockage in the skin follicles. It usually occurs in the face, chest, back, and shoulders. Acne can result to low self esteem, especially among adolescents.

Other types of inflammatory skin disorders include dermatitis or eczema, which is an inflammation of the epidermis, diaper rash, psoriasis which often results in red patches, and rosacea, which is chronic redness of the face.

Viral skin disorders, on the other hand, are caused by viruses like measles, herpes, chicken pox, and warts. Children are usually affected by viral skin disorders, although adults can also be affected especially as a result of unprotected sexual contact.

Chicken pox is one of the most notorious types of viral skin disorder. It is caused by infection of the varicella zoster virus. It is characterized by skin rashes which develop into small and open sores. Patients usually have to wait two to three weeks before the infection flares up.

Bacterial skin disorders develop from the presence of microorganisms which damage the tissues hosting it. Unlike viral skin disorders, bacterial skin disorders are easier to treat since medication like antibiotics are more prevalent and effective.

One type of bacterial skin disorder is folliculitis or more popularly known as Barber’s Itch characterized by inflammation of the hair follicles. It can appear anywhere in the body. Impetigo, meanwhile, is another type which is recognized by scabs found on arms, legs, and face. It is usually prevalent among children although adults, especially those who play contact sports, can be affected.

Fungal skin infections result from development of microorganisms living off dead skin. Although they can multiply easily, this type of skin infection is easy to treat. Some of the types of fungal infections include ringworm, athlete’s foot, and candida. Over the counter skin treatments are available to cure most fungal skin infections.

Skin cancer is considered the most serious type of skin disorder. It results from various risk factors like genetic predisposition or too much ultraviolet ray exposure. The epidermis is usually affected by skin cancer, thus a tumor is likely to develop. Some of the more common types of skin cancer are melanoma, squamous cell and basal cell cancer.

Anyone should be conscious of any discomfort or swelling on their skin as it can lead to early diagnosis and treatment of any type of skin disorder.