Common skin conditions in the UK

Skin conditions, such as acne, eczema and birthmarks can have a profound psychological effect on those who suffer from them. Our skin is the first thing to be seen by others and is on display 24 hours a day, seven days a week. People make judgments based on the way we look and those judgments - which are often ill informed - can severely impact on our self-confidence and self-image. Standing out from the crowd for the wrong reason is a profoundly unpleasant feeling for most people, yet the ignorance of skin conditions is still commonplace - even among sufferers themselves. As a result, many sufferers endure their conditions, unaware if the skin care products and skin clinics that are available to them.

Acne - not just suffered by teenagers

Acne is one of the few skin conditions that most people have heard of. However, not everyone is aware that there are many types of acne, including blackheads, whiteheads, pimples and cysts. These develop when the skin's pores become blocked. The reason our pores can become blocked is due to a chemical called sebum. Sebum is produces to lubricate the skin and help it maintain its elasticity. The human body produces more sebum - often more than is necessary - when there is a surge in hormones. This is why many teenagers and pregnant women are prone to acne. Dead skin cells and excess sebum act in different ways to produce different forms of acne. When the pore is blocked but the opening is left unblocked, a blackhead is formed. If the pore and the opening are blocked, the pore will close over the blockage to form a whitehead. In addition, bacteria will thrive in the moist environment and produce the painful, red inflammation associated with acne.

Eczema - a lifetime of suffering?

Eczema affects between 10 - 20% of schoolchildren and around 3-5% of adults. It manifests itself as an itchy inflammation of the skin. Although the types of eczema are varied, there are five main groups:

1) Atopic - generally suffered by those with hay-fever or asthma
2) Allergic contact
3) Irritant contact
4) Discoid - isolated areas of irritated skin
5) Seborrhoeic - ‘nappy-rash' or, in adults, on the scalp and in the creases around the nose and mouth.

Many of the causes of eczema can be household chemicals, washing powders, dust mites and yeast infections. Many sufferers have been able to reduce their conditions by altering their diets.

Birthmarks can be particularly difficult to endure. These present themselves as areas of flat or raised discoloured skin. While many birthmarks fade over time, there are those, such as vascular birthmarks, which can actually increase in size. Vascular birthmarks can appear particularly livid, caused by the clustering of enlarged capillaries just below the surface of the skin. These never fade and can make the sufferer extremely self-conscious.

The good news for sufferers of any of these conditions is that they are treatable. Thanks to advances in medical technology and the creation of more effective skin care products, most cases can be treated with ease. Skin clinics deal with each of these conditions every day and are consistently developing new techniques to treat them, without the risk of scarring. Acne can be controlled through prescription medicines or by use of certain skin care products, Eczema sufferers can benefit from consulting with a dermatologist and skin clinics have developed new and non-invasive procedures for the effective removal of birthmarks.

With all these technologies to hand, the best way of spreading the word is to encourage people to talk.

Gill Grozier - sk:n was established in 1990 and is the UK's leading provider of skincare conditions treatment and products including: botox, anti wrinkle treatment and laser treatments such as hair removal and laser tattoo removal. Contacts For interviews, images or comments contact: Gill Grozier Marketing Manager Email: gill.grozier@lasercare-clinics.co.uk