Itching to Find Cures for Skin Disorders

Ranging from the unsightly wart to the life-threatening melanoma, skin disorders encompass a multitude of characteristics. Most of us have suffered from a particular type of skin condition at some point in our lives. Whether it was the horror of teenage acne or the agony of senior liver spots, we have probably all wanted to cover up some part of our body at one time or another.

Skin disorders are quite prevalent in my family. My husband has endured the irritating rash associated with tinea versicolor for over fifteen years. Eczema has plagued my four-year-old son since the age of two. I myself struggled with acne into my twenties, as well as a bout of pityriasis rosea at twenty-one. And don't forget my four-month old who has already had more than his share of diaper rash. Thankfully none of these conditions are fatal, however, they are annoying if not debilitating.

The constant itching, inflammation, tenderness and redness associated with most skin conditions impede normal daily activities. Treating a skin disorder can be as bothersome as having the condition itself. For example, my husband cannot break a sweat without needing to scratch the inflamed, reddened areas on his trunk, arms and legs. He has tried numerous anti-fungal medicated creams to no avail. Apparently his only other option is a prescription drug that may cause liver damage! My four-year-old cannot go swimming in a chlorinated pool without having an increase in eczema breakouts. Cortisone treatment has failed to produce any noticeable change in his condition. For my persistent acne, I tried several antibiotics and at one point considered Acutane, until finally I outgrew the nuisance, along with the embarrassment and aggravation, in my mid-twenties. On the brighter side, diaper rash cream has done wonders for my baby's rash.

My goal is to help readers suffering from skin conditions find the latest research, therapies, treatments and prevention related to their ailments. Not until I began searching the Internet did I discover that some scientists believe tinea versicolor is possibly inherited. This explains why both my husband's grandfather and brother also suffer from the fungus. The Methodist Health Care System, http://www.methodisthealth.com/dermatolo... , is a good starting point for understanding tinea versicolor. Thanks to the power of the World Wide Web, I now know my son's eczema resulted from an allergy and might best be treated with emu oil. See http://www.javelinacreek.com/ for more information on emu oil treatment. With the number of online sites devoted to the subject of acne, my facial blemishes could be a a Suite 101 topic all alone. A good site is http://www.4Acne.4Anything.com. Also, http://www.yourbaby.com/ offers a lot of good information on caring for your baby's skin.

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