Chickenpox (varicella) is a viral infection that causes an itchy rash with small, fluid-filled blisters. Chickenpox is highly contagious to people who haven't had the disease or been vaccinated against it. Before routine chickenpox vaccination, vi...

Familial eosinophilic cellulitis is a rare skin disorder. It is characterized by raised, red, swollen, and warm areas of skin, in a flame-shaped pattern with associated pain. The exact cause of the disease is unknown. However, bites of spiders, be...

Fox-Fordyce disease is a rare skin disorder that primarily affects women. The disorder is characterized by intense itching especially in the underarm area, the pubic area and around the nipples. In Fox-Fordyce disease abnormalities affecting the a...

Granuloma annulare (gran-u-LOW-muh an-u-LAR-e) is a skin condition that most commonly consists of raised, reddish or skin-colored bumps (lesions) that form ring patterns — usually on your hands and feet. No one knows exactly what cau...

Familial eosinophilic cellulitis is a rare skin disorder. It is characterized by raised, red, swollen, and warm areas of skin, in a flame-shaped pattern with associated pain. The exact cause of the disease is unknown. However, bites of spiders, be...

Grover's disease is a rare, transient skin disorder that consists of small, firm, raised red lesions, most often on the skin of the chest and back. Diagnosis of this disorder becomes apparent under microscopic examination when the loss of the "cem...

Hemangioma is a benign (non-cancerous) tumor made up of a cluster of blood vessels. It is most commonly found in infants and young children, and usually appears as a red or purple mark on the skin. Hemangiomas can occur anywhere on the body, but a...

HIV/AIDS and the Eye is a term used to describe the effects of HIV/AIDS on the eyes. HIV/AIDS can cause a variety of eye problems, including inflammation of the eye, dry eye, and vision loss. HIV/AIDS can also increase the risk of developing certa...

Seborrheic Keratosis is a skin disorder usually characterized by discolored lesions that appear to be "stuck on" the skin surface. Warts may appear and skin is often oily or greasy. These skin lesions are sometimes mistaken for cancerous growths a...

Atypical mole syndrome, also called dysplastic nevus syndrome, is a disorder of the skin characterized by the presence of many mole-like tumors (nevi). Most people have 10-20 moles over their bodies. People with this syndrome often have more than ...

Oral leukoplakia is a condition characterized by thick, white patches or plaques that form on the inside of the mouth, typically on the cheeks, gums, or tongue. These patches cannot be scraped off and may be rough or slightly raised. ...

Incontinentia Pigmenti (IP) is a rare genetic dermatological disorder affecting the skin, hair, teeth, and central nervous system. Progressive skin changes occur in four stages, the first of which appear in early infancy or can be present at birth...

Psoriasis facts Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease. Patients with psoriasis tend to be obese and are predisposed to diabetes and heart disease. Psoriasis can be initiated by certain environmental tr...

Ringworm facts Ringworm is a common fungal infection of the skin and is not due to a worm. The medical term for ringworm is tinea. The condition is further named for the site of the body where the infection occurs. ...

Psoriasis is an inflammatory disease of the skin that is estimated to affect about 2.2% of the adult population. Some people may have a genetic predisposition to psoriasis. The genes affected seem to be involved with control of the immune system. ...

Cholinergic urticaria is a relatively common disorder of the immune system characterized by an immediate skin reaction (hypersensitivity) to heat, emotional stress, and/or exercise. Symptoms of the disorder include the appearance of distinctive sm...