Whats wrong with my skin? Identifying skin conditions, skin disorders, skin cancer and more

Is it acne, a rash or maybe something more serious? Skin disorders can vary in both symptoms and severity. Some skin conditions are minor, some are serious but treatable, and others, like skin cancer, can be life-threatening. Here are 18 common (and a few less common) skin conditions with photos to help you ID them. Remember to always reach out to your physician for a proper diagnosis and treatment.

Acne | Actinic keratosis | Basal cell carcinoma | Blisters | Carbuncle | Cellulitis | Chicken pox | Cold sores | Contact dermatitis | Eczema | Hives | Latex allergy | Lupus | Measles | Melanoma | Psoriasis | Rosacea | Squamous cell carcinoma

Suffering from acne? Youre not alone. Acne is the most common condition dermatologists treat 40 to 50 million Americans struggle with acne at any given time.

Acne can show up almost anywhere on the skin as blackheads, papules and pustules or pimples, cysts and nodules

Acne starts when dead skin cells dont shed properly and clog your pores.

Some acne can be treated with over-the-counter products, while others require professional help, including prescription medication and treatments.

Read more about acne and how to treat it.

These precancerous lesions often appear as rough spots on the skin. Actinic keratosis is common, but if left untreated it can turn into squamous cell carcinoma.

The appearance of actinic keratosis can vary from bumps that look like pimples or acne to rough lesions that are red, pink or gray.

When cells in the skin called keratinocytes are damaged by UV rays, it can cause actinic keratosis.

While not always necessary, treatments may include removal of the actinic keratosis with liquid nitrogen, chemical peels, scraping or other therapies.

Read more about actinic keratosis and how to treat it.

Basal cell carcinoma is the most common type of skin cancer. It affects approximately 2.6 million people in the U.S. each year. Do you know how to spot it?

Basal cell carcinoma is much more common in people who have light skin. Symptoms tend to be the same color as the skin or pink. Its important to look for any changes in your skin.

Exposure from ultraviolet rays (UV) from the sun or indoor tanning is a primary cause of basal cell carcinoma.

Your dermatologist may be able to remove a basal cell carcinoma tumor when doing a biopsy. Sometimes a Mohs surgery is recommended.

Read more about basal cell carcinoma and how to spot it.

A common skin condition, most people develop blisters once in a while.

Blisters are small, painful sacs of fluid.

Blisters can be caused by friction, such as by a shoe rubbing against the skin, or by sunburns, heat or skin diseases.

Blisters tend to heal on their own, but a blister can be drained if its too painful.

Read more about blisters and how to treat them.

Sometimes confused with a spider bite, a carbuncle is a group of boils that stem from an infection of the skin and are connected to each other.

Red, tender bumps, or boils, that contain pus are signs of a carbuncle. Carbuncles can eventually rupture, and pus will leak out of them.

A bacterial infection, such as Staphylococcus aureus, is often the cause of a carbuncle.

If a carbuncle is small, you may be able to treat it at home with warm compresses and bandages. Otherwise, your dermatologist can make an incision to drain the pus.

Read more about carbuncles and how to treat them.

Cellulitis is an infection of the skin in which the skin becomes red and swollen. It typically occurs after you get a cut or wound.

When you have cellulitis, an area of your skin often on one of your legs becomes red, swollen, warm and possibly painful.

Cellulitis can be caused by two different types of bacteria: streptococcus (aka strep) or staphylococcus (aka staph).

Antibiotics like penicillin, cephalosporin or erythromycin are normally used to treat cellulitis.

Read more about cellulitis and how to treat it.

Also called varicella, this highly contagious disease mostly strikes children.

A fever may precede it, but the unique chicken pox rash appears on the skin with itchy blisters that look like lots of little dew drops.

The varicella-zoster virus (VZV) causes chicken pox as well as shingles. Its unlikely to get chicken pox if youve had the chicken pox vaccine.

The best treatment for chicken pox is prevention through vaccination. An early case of chicken pox may be treated with antiviral drugs. Other remedies can be used to ease symptoms.

Read more about chicken pox and how to treat it.

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Also known as fever blisters, cold sores are blisters, or clusters of blisters, that appear on your lips or near your mouth.

Symptoms of cold sores can vary. The sores may start with a tingling, burning or other sensation, then break open and scab over.

Cold sores are caused by the herpes simplex virus. Outbreaks are triggered by stress, fatigue, illness and other factors.

Read more about cold sores and how to treat them.

Almost everyone gets contact dermatitis at some point. There are two main types of contact dermatitis allergic and irritant. Both trigger a rash.

Symptoms of allergic contact dermatitis may include itching, rash, dryness and other symptoms. Cracked, itchy, chapped skin with sores may be signs of irritant contact dermatitis.

Contact dermatitis is caused by something that touches your skin like poison ivy, nickel, fragrances, latex or other irritants and triggers a rash.

The best treatment for contact dermatitis is to avoid whatever it is that triggers your rash. Beyond that, your dermatologist may also recommend antihistamine pills, moisturizers or topical steroids.

Read more about contact dermatitis and how to treat it.

Eczema is a condition that causes red, itchy patches on the skin. It often starts at a young age often people with eczema get it when they're babies.

Eczema is almost always itchy, but otherwise symptoms can vary from person to person. Skin infected with eczema can be dry, dark, scaly, swollen or oozing.

Eczema may be caused by an overactive immune system, but its not entirely clear what causes the condition.

There is no cure for eczema, but symptoms can be managed with medications and other therapies.

Read more about eczema and how to treat it

The onset of hives can be mysterious, and though hives usually go away in less than 24 hours, new ones can repeatedly appear.

Hives appear on the skin as slightly swollen, raised pink or red patches. You may have one hive, a group of hives that may be separate or connected together.

Its difficult to pinpoint the cause of hives, but there are many triggers that can cause hives, from insect bites and allergic reactions to medication, stress and heat.

The go-to treatment for hives is usually antihistamines.

Read more about hives and how to treat them.

People with an allergy to latex are allergic to a protein found in the sap of the Brazilian rubber tree.

Different symptoms appear with different types of latex allergies. One type causes a rash on the skin; another can cause anaphylaxis, which can result in a swelling of the airways and difficulty breathing.

When your immune system reacts as though latex is a harmful substance, it causes an allergic reaction to latex.

Since theres no cure for latex allergies, your best bet is to avoid coming into contact with latex.

Read more about latex allergy and how to treat it.

An autoimmune disease that causes pain and inflammation, lupus can affect your skin, as well as your kidneys, heart, joints and lungs.

A red butterfly-shaped rash that appears on the nose and cheeks is one common sign of lupus, but symptoms of lupus will vary, depending on the type of lupus you have.

There are a number of factors that may play a role in whether you develop rosacea, but experts dont know for certain what causes the skin condition.

There is no cure for rosacea, but the condition can be managed to help keep symptoms from worsening.

Read more about lupus and how to treat it.

Also known as rubeola, measles is a contagious and potentially deadly disease that usually strikes children.

Beyond the signifying red, spotted rash, measles may also be accompanied by a fever, cough, runny nose and other symptoms.

A virus that infects the respiratory tract and spreads throughout the body causes measles. Its one of the most contagious diseases.

The best treatment is prevention through a vaccine. Otherwise, high doses of vitamin A, bed rest and medications to reduce pain and fever may help.

Read more about measles and how to treat it.

Its one of the less common skin cancers, but melanoma is the most dangerous because it can easily spread to other parts of your body.

Melanoma tumors tend to be black or brown, but can sometimes be pink, tan or white. Anyone can get melanoma, but people with light skin are at greater risk.

UV light exposure from ultraviolet rays from the sun or indoor tanning causes most melanomas.

Treatments depend on how advanced the melanoma is and where the tumor is located. It may include surgery, radiation, chemotherapy or other therapies.

Read more about melanoma and how to treat it.

Psoriasis affects more than 8 million people in the U.S. It typically starts in the teen years or early 20s, though it can occur at any age.

When you have psoriasis, your body makes new skin cells quickly, and the cells typically build up in thick, scaly patches on the skin called plaques.

There are a number of factors that may contribute to causing psoriasis. The immune system and genetics may play a role. Certain triggers can also cause the onset of psoriasis and psoriasis flare-ups.

Psoriasis doesnt have a cure, there are medications and treatments that can help manage the condition.

Read more about psoriasis and how to treat it.

This common inflammatory skin condition causes redness of the face.

In addition to causing facial redness, if rosacea is not treated, it can cause visible blood vessels, breakouts like acne and other symptoms.

There are a number of factors that may play a role in whether you develop rosacea, but experts dont know for certain what causes the skin condition.

There is no cure for rosacea, but the condition can be managed to help keep symptoms from worsening.

Read more about rosacea and how to treat it.

Also known as cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma, this cancer develops when the squamous cells in the top layer of your skin grow out of control.

Though its linked with exposure to ultraviolet rays, squamous cell carcinoma can crop up in areas that dont get much sun. Watch out for rough, scaly patches, sores that dont heal or anything else that looks suspicious.

Squamous cell carcinoma is mainly caused by UV rays from the sun or indoor tanning.

Treatments for squamous cell carcinoma may include surgery, radiation or other therapies. Catching it early is key.

Read more about squamous cell carcinoma and how to treat it.

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