What's on your skin? |
Diagnosis |
Cause |
How to get rid of it? |
| Thin lines of redness and blistering |
Poison ivy/oak/sumac |
You are allergic to these plants' resins. |
Mix 1 or 2 tablespoons of plain oatmeal in a basin of water and immerse the affected area.
Alternate your oatmeal bath with cold compresses soaked in plain water. Resist the urge to scratch; it can lead to infection. |
| Painful blisters and sores, usually running along one side of your chest, stomach, or head |
Shingles |
The chicken-pox virus. It lies dormant in nerve cells near your spinal cord after a bout with the disease and can reactivate later. About 20% of people who've had chicken pox someday contract shingles. |
Your doctor can prescribe an antiviral medication that will limit the duration and severity of the outbreak. But if the medication helps only if it's begun in the first three days, so act quickly. Clean blisters and sores that have opened by sponging them lightly with mild soap and water once or twice a day. |
| A tiny sore inside your mouth that stings like crazy whenever you eat something sour |
A canker sore |
Stress, heredity, hot foods and liquids, and certain edibles, such as chocolate, nuts, tomatoes, citrus fruits, and chips |
Take a swig of a liquid antacid and swish it around your mouth. (Then spit it out.) The thick, milky solution coats the canker sore and helps protect it from sore and helps protect it from irritation. If the sore is still there after 14 days, see your doctor. |
| Red, dry, cracked patches anywhere on your body (though some people have them only inside their elbows or behind their knees) |
Eczema |
Heredity, allergies |
Take a tepid shower, then use a soothing cream, moisturizer within 3 minutes, while your skin is still wet. A calamine and zinc oxide preparation may also be effective. If you itch, take an over-the-counter antihistamine as well. |
| Purple discoloration in your ocular area |
A black eye |
Door frames, cricket balls, elbows, angry spouses |
Wrap a bag of frozen peas in a thin towel and apply it to your eye for 15 minutes every 2 to 3 hours. Take acetaminophen, not aspirin, for the pain; aspirin will slow the clotting and healing of the broken blood vessels. |
| An inflamed, painful sore |
A boil |
Boils occur when bacteria gets trapped inside a hair follicle or pore |
Three times a day, soak a towel in warm water and place it on top of the boil for 15 minutes, rewarming the towel frequently. This will bring the boil to a head, causing it to drain naturally. Do not pinch, squeeze, or pop. |
| A tan patch that looks like a large, dark freckle |
Possibly a sun spot, a.k.a. age spot or liver spot; possibly cancer |
Too much time in the sun; genetics |
Check with a doctor to rule out malignancy. If the spot is benign and you still want it removed, a dermatologist can take care of it with a laser. |
| A red, swollen bump that hurts or itches |
An insect sting or bite; red, itchy welts may signal an allergy |
A bug with an attitude |
If it's a sting, use a credit card or a fingernail to scrape out the stinger. Then wrap an ice pack in a thin towel and apply it for 15 minutes to reduce the swelling. Aspirin can ease the pain and itching. If you think you're having an allergic reaction, get emergency help. |
| A shine |
Excess oil |
Overachieving sebaceous glands |
Wash your face with an oily-skin soap that contains salicylic acid. Then apply an alcohol-based toner with a cotton ball. Look for one with natural ingredients, such as cucumber, witch hazel, or citrus acids. |
| A bubble of skin filled with liquid |
A blister |
Constant friction separates the outer layer of the skin from the other layers. Eventually the skin starts to bubble, and fluid that usually lies unnoticed between skin cells collects inside |
Sterilize a needle, then prick the blister on different sides. (Prick it more than once, since holes may reseal almost immediately.) Squeeze out the liquid, but leave the "roof" of the blister intact. It will protect the irritated area from infection. |
| Deep lines and creases |
Wrinkles |
You probably spent too much time in the sun as a child. Most sun damage occurs in the first 10 to 12 years of life |
Prescription antiacne creams like Retino A which contain Vitamin A derivatives called retinoids, can help eliminate superficial lines by increasing cell turnover. Alpha Hydroxy Acid (AHA) peels are also effective in temporarily erasing wrinkles. Wear sunscreen if you spend a lot of time outdoors. |
| Red, scaly patches that show up as either a splatter of drops or big splotches |
Psoriasis |
An overactive immune system |
Don't pick, scrub, or scratch. Apply a soothing moisturizing cream after bathing. A coal tar and salicylic acid preparation may also be effective. Troublesome cases require photochemotherapy. Try reducing your stress level if you can. (Stress aggravates psoriasis.) |
| Blush lines that make your legs look like a road map |
Varicose veins |
Nobody's certain, but genetics play a role. If your mother and grandmother had them, chances are you will, too |
To counteract the throbbing associated with varicose veins, lie down and elevate your feet on a couple of pillows for at least half an hour. Also, eat a high-fibre diet to avoid constipation. A constantly full colon can exert pressure on the upper leg veins, and that can aggravate varicose veins. |
| Rough, raised spots, usually appearing in small clusters |
Warts |
Warts are actually benign tumors caused by the human papilomavirus, which most of us are in contact with every day |
Use an over the counter wart remover that contains salicylic acid, and keep the area around the warts dry. Warts on genitals should be checked by a doctor, since they can be transmitted to sexual partners. |
| Multicolored markings, often appearing on the biceps, ankle, or bottom |
A tattoo |
Aerosmith; too many Bacardi Blasts |
Tiny tattoos can be cut out with a scalpel; local anesthetic will numb any pain. Most larger ones can be removed in stages with laser. |
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