Many people get confused about their skin. They are not always sure when they have a skin problem that requires a different skincare routine to clear it up. Or, if they need to see a doctor and get professional treatment. There are times when your skin conditions might just be a passing thing due to hormones or some kind of reaction against a product.
However, there are times when your skin is telling you that you have a more serious problem. Some skin conditions that get left untreated can have serious long-term effects. It’s best to understand when you need to see a dermatologist and when you can treat yourself at home. This article will give you several signs that you need to seek help.
1 – Severe acne
Most people get acne at some point or another in their life. Usually, it is just annoying but nothing too serious. It can be caused by not cleansing your skin correctly, or simply needing to buy a new makeup brush because the old one is causing breakouts. When this is the case, it’s simply a matter of finding the right facial cleanse routine and it will go away.
There is a type of acne called severe acne which will resist many forms of at-home remedies. For instance, when the blemishes are painful and don’t go away no matter how many different products you’ve tried. This type of persistent acne needs to be treated professionally to get rid of it.
The issue could be that your sebum product is on hyperdrive and your pores get clogged because of it. This means that the root cause of the problem needs to be dealt with and not just using a cleanser to kill bacteria.
Severe acne that is left untreated can not only cause scarring but can also lead to infections that are quite serious.
2 – Skin cancer screenings
One of the things that makes skin cancer so dangerous is how the signs can often be ignored or pushed aside. What looks like a harmless mole may be the first sign of an impending problem that needs to be caught quickly. The problem is that moles develop on their own and aren’t always signs of a problem.
If you have a new mole that seems to be growing quickly then this is something to be concerned about and a skin cancer screening is recommended. If the mole is also painful when you touch it and the surrounding skin is also looking discolored then this is a sure sign that something isn’t right. If this is your situation then it’s best to see a doctor right away.
3 – Eczema and psoriasis
Skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis are not only embarrassing when they are in areas that are visible, but they are also quite painful and uncomfortable. When an outbreak happens it can seriously diminish your quality of life during that period and you’re limited in the activities that you can do.
Unfortunately, it isn’t easy to treat these issues at home since they are usually an autoimmune response from the body. It’s like the body fighting itself and this causes the rashes. It takes going to a dermatologist who specializes in this area since it usually requires some form of steroid therapy.
This is usually a lifelong condition that will need to be treated regularly. Going to a dermatologist will set you up with a routine that will help you get your life back on track and keep you from missing out due to outbreaks.
4 – Skin infections
It is much easier than you realize to end up with a skin infection. You have probably had some form or another in your life. For instance, if you went to a nail salon that doesn’t properly disinfect their tools then you can come home with quite a serious infection. Most of the time, this can be treated with antibacterial ointments at home.
However, there are some infections that can spread if they aren’t treated or the ointment doesn’t work. If the infection isn’t caught on time it can lead to more serious issues especially if it spreads to organs. The best way forward is to go to a dermatologist who can give you a prescription-strength antibiotic for the infected area. If the infection spread then you will likely need a separate prescription from your primary care physician for an oral antibiotic to kill the infection.
