Blog Archive

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Sunburn

Sunburn

Sunburn is damage caused to the skin by UV rays (sunshine).

The skin becomes red, warm, sore and tender. It may start to flake and peel after a few days, and will usually fully heal within 7 days.

Sunburn is usually mild and short-lived, but it’s important to try to avoid it because it can increase your risk of developing skin problems in later life, such as ageing (wrinkling) and skin cancer.

It can be easy to underestimate the strength of the sun when you’re outside. The wind and getting wet, such as going in and out of the sea, may cool your skin, so you don’t realise you’re getting burnt.

You should always be aware of the risk of sunburn if you’re outside in strong sunshine, and look out for your skin getting hot.

Byhowbeck

Eczema

Eczema

Atopic eczema (atopic dermatitis) is the most common form of eczema.

Atopic eczema causes the skin to become itchy, dry, cracked, sore and red. Some people only have small patches of dry skin, but others may experience widespread red, inflamed skin all over the body.

Although atopic eczema can affect any part of the body, it most often affects the hands, insides of the elbows, backs of the knees and the face and scalp in children.

Byhowbeck

Acne

Acne

Acne is a common skin condition that affects most people at some point. It causes spots, oily skin and sometimes skin that’s hot or painful to touch.

Acne most commonly develops on the:

  • face – this affects almost everyone with acne
  • back – this affects more than half of people with acne
  • chest – this affects about 15% of people with acne
Byhowbeck

Scabies

Scabies

Scabies is a contagious skin condition caused by tiny mites that burrow into the skin. 

Scabies is usually spread through prolonged periods of skin-to-skin contact with an infected person, or through sexual contact.

It can take up to eight weeks for the symptoms of scabies to appear after the initial infection. This is known as the incubation period.

Byhowbeck

Impetigo

Impetigo is a common and highly contagious skin infection that causes sores and blisters.
It’s not usually serious and often improves within a week of treatment or within a few weeks without treatment.

Impetigo is the most common skin infection in young children in the UK, but it can affect people of all ages.