Skin problems may be caused by food allergies, sunburn, hormones, pregnancy, genetics or a host of other causes. They are rarely life threatening. Even skin cancers (including melanoma) often respond well to treatment if detected early enough.

Skin problems cause many people emotional pain and suffering. Some skin conditions are severe enough that patients can suffer depression. In many cases, healing the emotional scars related to a skin condition can take even longer than treating the physical problem.

The cause of skin conditions range from sunburn and drug reactions to genetics and pregnancy. Many of the causes can be avoided with a little prevention, while others are more random in occurrence.

Skin Infections - Skin infections have a viral, bacterial or fungal basis. Rashes caused by athlete's foot, impetigo, and chicken pox all fall into this category. Bacterial and fungal skin infections are usually successfully treated with antibiotics and other medications. Viral skin infections must be combated by the body's own immune system, although the symptoms associated with the infection can be treated. Skin conditions caused by infections may appear as rashes or other types of lesions such as pustules.

Sun Exposure, Sunburn and Heat Rash - Sunlight contains harmful ultraviolet rays that can damage the skin. Sunburn increases your chance of developing a skin condition, as does tanning and lengthy unprotected exposure to the sun. Skin cancer is the best known condition caused by sunburn and tanning. Premature aging of the skin also occurs with prolonged exposure to the sun.

Certain drug reactions increase the skin's sensitivity to sunlight, thereby increasing the chance of sunburn or heat rash. A skin condition called hyperpigmentation, where areas of skin become darker than the surrounding area, can be caused by unprotected exposure to sunlight. As hyperpigmentation may also be caused by drug reactions; excessive sun exposure while taking certain medications is ill advised.

In hot, humid weather, prickly heat rash can develop. Staying cool and dry, wearing light, cool clothing and drying thoroughly after bathing are the best defenses against the irritating prickly heat of the heat rash pustules.

Pregnancy - Certain skin conditions occur more often during pregnancy. Almost 90% of pregnant women have temporary hyperpigmentation called Melasoma, or the "mask of pregnancy" where naturally darker areas of pigmentation (such as freckles, scars, moles, and nipples) appear darker than usual. The condition slowly disappears after childbirth.

Natural Irritants and Allergies - Many temporary skin problems are caused by natural sources. Insect bites inflame and irritate the skin. Poison ivy and other irritating plants cause skin rashes, pustules and itching. Parasites such as lice and mites can cause extreme itching and discomfort.

A food allergy can cause skin rashes, hives and even facial swelling. While the symptoms of a food allergy are often dramatic, tracking down the food that causes the allergic reaction can sometimes take time. If you suspect you have a food allergy, consult your doctor: allergy testing may be in order.

Diaper rash is caused by exposure to urine and feces, allergies to disposable diapers, soaps and detergents, or by diapers that are worn too tightly. While most cases of diaper rash are mild and resolve in a day or two, more severe cases form painful pustules that cover the baby's bottom, and may even result in a yeast infection. All cases of diaper rash should be monitored for potential secondary infection by bacteria or yeast.

Drug Reactions - Adverse drug reactions can cause rashes, hives, and swelling. As mentioned above, some medications increase the skin's sensitivity to the sun. Notify your doctor of any skin problem that develops after you start a new medication.

Genetics - People whose parents suffer from skin-affecting allergies may themselves be at increased risk of developing allergies. Acne has a hereditary pattern, as do some other common skin conditions. In the field of new drug development, a skin rash is considered to be a relatively "minor" side effect. Even medicines that successfully treat problems for most people frequently list the side effect of causing or worsening skin problems for an unfortunate few. After all, who's to say whether their product caused a new rash, or was just ineffective in treating an existing one? Supplements include vitamins, minerals, herbs, botanicals, and amino acids. The FDA requires that they include the words, "dietary supplement" on the label. By law, supplement manufacturers may not make health claims linked to a specific disease, in most cases. But many supplements do mention specific diseases (including eczema) in their ads, which is a legal gray area. Some supplements probably are effective, but don't yet have formal scientific studies to demonstrate this. Others may be a waste of your money or may worsen your condition.

Don't jump to the conclusion that an "all-natural" regimen is best for your skin. Products derived from animal or plant sources may have irritating or allergenic effects for some people, as with any other substance. While it is true that some persons with eczema have good success in using plant- or animal-based products, others may do better using synthetic formulations.

Over-the-counter medications are available without a prescription because they contain relatively low concentrations of active ingredients. They are "not designed to treat the causes" of a skin condition, but to give some relief of "symptoms". Many good moisturizers are available as over-the-counter products. They are important in terms of prevention and maintenance to reduce eczema's impact. Regular use of these products may reduce the frequency of flare-ups.

Prescription medicines, by contrast, are usually much more powerful in treating the underlying cause of a condition. They are closely regulated in the U.S. by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and are approved for use in treating a specific disease only after they have demonstrated effectiveness and safety. No prescription drug is free of side effects, and FDA approval is sometimes given to drugs that must be used with caution to avoid the negative effects which could result in something worse than the disease itself. Consequently, these drugs must be administered under the watchful eye of a licensed practitioner - a doctor or, in some states, a nurse practitioner.

People with chronic eczema will occasionally find themselves in a situation where they will require something stronger than an over-the-counter product to bring a flare-up under control. This usually means topical or oral corticosteroids. Except for the very mildest preparations, these are only available by prescription.

Specific strategies to employ:

• Do your homework- ask questions before you begin the new treatment

• Use your support networks. Ask your friends with eczema if they have experience with the therapy.

• Look carefully at the product's ingredient list, printed on the package. There should also be a Product Insert (PI) sheet for all FDA-approved prescription drugs. If you do not get one, ask your pharmacist, prescribing physician, or check the Physician's Desk Reference (PDR), available in most public libraries. Most PI's are also available over the Internet.

A good pharmacy is an important source of health information. When filling your prescription, the pharmacist will double-check to see that the drug is the right one, and should offer instructions on how to use the medication properly. If the ingredients of a product you are considering aren't fully disclosed on the label, beware. If all ingredients are stated, you can usually track down why they are included, and what they do. Drugs and pharmaceutical products must designate the name of the "active ingredient"-the therapeutic agent. The rest of the ingredients are usually helpers which make the product easier to use or carriers to place the active ingredients into as the active ingredients would be too strong by themselves. Also carriers act as a base or sometimes assist in penetration into the membrane, organ or skin. And sometimes they carriers or base assist or help in extending the shelf life or useful life of the product. In creams or lotions, there will be emulsifiers, preservatives, perfumes, or dyes. Unfortunately, any of these non-active ingredients can cause irritation or allergic reactions for sensitive or allergic skin. Ointments (also called "greases") don't need these, as a rule, because most active drugs against eczema mix well with ointments. After a little experience, you will become expert at reading labels.

Pick a specific day to start the therapy. Try to pick a time that will minimize the possibility that other things happening in your life may cause misleading results. If you're a woman, don't start the therapy while you are menstruating, as hormonal changes may affect your eczema. Avoid consuming alcohol or engaging in activities which may cause dehydration. Be aware that other drugs (prescription or not) can mask a therapeutic effect of the new regimen, or could possible have an adverse effect when combined with a new therapy.

If you hope to replace an existing therapy with a new one you've never tried, start the new one on a part of your body that is relatively free of eczema, to eliminate the possibility that something in it may cause allergic contact eczema, thus making your problems worse. Or better still, mark a small area where you will try the new agent and then only apply it there, using your regular regimen everywhere else. Once you've tried this for a day or two, try the new therapy on one side of your body and the old one on the other.

Be patient! Results may not be immediate. The healing process takes several days.

Remember that treating skin disease is a mixture of both science and art, and fine-tuning may improve the outcome, even with relatively small changes. It's best to make these in close partnership with your trusted provider. A small proportion of persons with eczema will learn that their disease is primarily based on an allergic reaction to something. Indeed, the hope of every person with eczema is for a real cure, but at this writing there isn't one in sight. The clinical management of this disease remains quite complex, with much trial and error required. It's always a good idea to look into any rumored new therapy, whether you actually try it or not. And if you do try it, don't be too put off by apparent failures, or too ecstatic at what appear to be promising results. Although your disease is stubborn, it is also manageable. This information sets forth current opinions from recognized authorities, but it does not dictate an exclusive treatment course. Persons with questions about a medical condition should consult a physician who is knowledgeable about that condition.