This document provides information on several skin conditions: Erysipelas is a bacterial skin infection causing redness, swelling and pain. It is usually treated with antibiotics. Molluscum contagiosum is a viral infection causing small bumps, spread through skin contact. It usually goes away on its own but can be treated by freezing, scraping or lasers. Dermatomyositis is an inflammatory disease causing a rash and muscle weakness. Treatment focuses on suppressing the immune system with corticosteroids.

1. SKIN/
INTEGUMENTARY
DISEASES:
SYMPTOMS, CAUSES AND TREATMENTS

2. ERYSIPELAS
What is Erysipelas?
• Erysipelas is a type of superficial cellulitis
with dermal lymphatic involvement.
• Erysipelas is characterized clinically by shiny,
raised, indurated and tender plaque-like lesions
with distinct margins.

3. ERYSIPELAS

4. ERYSIPELAS
CAUSES:
• Erysipelas most often
caused by Group A (or
rarely group C or G) β-
hemolytic streptococci
and occurs most
frequently on the legs
and face.

5. ERYSIPELAS
SYMPTOMS:
• Fever
• Chills
• Generally feeling unwell
• A red, swollen, and painful area of skin
• Blisters on the affected area

6. ERYSIPELAS
TREATMENT:
Most people with erysipelas can be
treated at home, but some may require
treatment in a hospital. Depending on
the severity of your condition, your
treatment plan can include home
remedies, medication, or surgery.
HOME CARE
The affected part of the body must be raised
higher than the rest of your body to reduce
swelling. For example, if your leg is
affected, you should try to rest as much as
possible with the leg elevated above your
hip.
MEDICATION
Antibiotics, such as penicillin, are the most
common treatment for erysipelas. More
serious cases of erysipelas are generally
treated at the hospital, where antibiotics can
be given through a vein (IV). You may also
be given painkillers to reduce discomfort and
treat the fever.
Antifungal medication for athlete’s foot may
be required if this is the cause of your
erysipelas.
SURGERY
It is only required in rare cases of erysipelas
that have progressed rapidly and caused
healthy tissue to die. A surgical operation may
be needed to cut away the dead tissue.

7. MOLLUSCUM
CONTAGIOSUM
What is Molluscum Contagiosum?
• Molluscum Contagiosum is a skin infection caused by a
virus.
• The virus, called the Molluscum contagiosum virus,
produces benign raised lesions, or bumps, on the upper layers
of your skin.
• The small bumps are usually painless. They disappear on
their own and rarely leave scars when they’re left untreated.
The length of time the virus lasts varies for each person, but
the bumps can last from two months to four years.

8. MOLLUSCUM
CONTAGIOSUM

9. MOLLUSCUM
CONTAGIOSUM
CAUSES:
• Molluscum Contagiosum is caused
by Molluscum Contagiosum virus.
• Can be get by touching the lesions on
the skin of an infected person.
Children can get the virus during
normal play with other children.
• Teens and adults are more likely to
become infected through sexual
contact.
• The virus can survive on surfaces
that have been touched by the skin of
an infected person. Therefore, it’s
possible to contract the virus by
handling towels, clothing, toys, or
other items that have been
contaminated.

10. MOLLUSCUM
CONTAGIOSUM
SYMPTOMS
You may notice the appearance of a small group of painless lesions. These bumps may appear
alone or in a patch of as many as 20. They’re usually:
• very small, shiny, and smooth in appearance
• flesh-colored, white, or pink
• firm and shaped like a dome with a dent or dimple in the middle
• filled with a central core of waxy material
• between 2 to 5 millimeters in diameter, or between the size of the head of a pin and the
size of an eraser on the top of a pencil
• present anywhere except on the palms of your hands or the soles of your feet
• present on the face, abdomen, torso, arms, and legs
• present on the inner thigh, genitals, or abdomen in adults
• However, if you have a weakened immune system, you may have symptoms that are more
significant. Lesions may be as large as 15 millimeters in diameter, which is about the size
of a dime. The bumps appear more often on the face and are typically resistant to
treatment.

11. MOLLUSCUM
CONTAGIOSUM
TREATMENT:
• The most effective treatments for molluscum contagiosum are
performed by a doctor and include the following:
• During cryotherapy, your doctor uses liquid nitrogen to freeze each
bump.
• During curettage, your doctor uses a small tool to pierce the bump
and scrape it off the skin.
• During laser therapy, your doctor uses a laser to destroy each
bump.
• During topical therapy, your doctor applies creams containing
acids or chemicals to the bumps to induce peeling of the top layers
of the skin.

12. MOLLUSCUM
CONTAGIOSUM

13. DERMATOMYOSITIS
What is Dermatomyositis?
• Dermatomyositis is a rare inflammatory disease. Common
symptoms of dermatomyositis include a distinctive skin rash,
muscle weakness, and inflammatory myopathy, or inflamed
muscles. It’s one of only three known inflammatory myopathies.
Dermatomyositis can affect both adults and children.

14. DERMATOMYOSITIS

15. DERMATOMYOSITIS
CAUSES:
• The exact cause of dermatomyositis isn’t known.
However, it has many similarities to an autoimmune
disease.
• An autoimmune disease occurs when your body’s
disease-fighting cells, called antibodies, attack your
healthy cells.
• Having a compromised immune system may also
contribute. For example, having a viral infection or
cancer may compromise your immune system and lead to
the development of dermatomyositis.

16. DERMATOMYOSITIS
SYMPTOMS
• In most cases, the first symptom is a distinctive skin rash on the face,
chest, nails, or elbows. The rash is patchy and usually a bluish-purple
color.
• You may also have muscle weakness that gets worse over weeks or
months. This muscle weakness usually starts in your neck, arms, or hips
and can be felt on both sides of your body.
• Other symptoms you might experience are:
• Muscle pain
• Muscle tenderness
• Problems swallowing
• Fatigue
• Unintentional weight loss
• Fever

17. DERMATOMYOSITIS
TREATMENT:
• There’s no cure for dermatomyositis for most people.
Treatment can improve the condition of your skin and
muscle weakness.
• Corticosteroid medications, such as prednisone, are the
preferred method of treatment in most cases. You can
take them by mouth or apply them to your skin.
Corticosteroids lower the response of your immune
system, which reduces the amount of inflammation-
causing antibodies.

18. HEMANGIOMAS
What is Hemangiomas?
• Hemangiomas are non-cancerous growths that form due to an
abnormal collection of blood vessels.
• They are usually congenital which means that most people
develop them before birth while they’re still in the womb.
• Hemangiomas of the skin develop when blood vessels group
together into single lump. It is form on the top layer of the skin or
on the fatty layer underneath (called the subcutaneous layer).
• In the beginning, it may appear to be a red birthmark on the skin.

19. HEMANGIOMAS

20. HEMANGIOMAS
CAUSES:
• Hemangiomas is caused
by the accumulated blood
vessels into a single
lump.
SYMPTOMS:
• Hemangiomas don’t
normally cause symptoms
during or after formation.
However they may cause
some symptoms if they
grow large (multiple
hemangiomas) if they
grow in sensitive areas.

21. HEMANGIOMAS
TREATMENTS:
• Skin hemangiomas that develop lesions or sores may
require treatment which includes:
– Corticosteroid medication
– Laser treatment
– Medicated gel called becaplermin
– Surgical removal

22. DYSHIDROTIC
ECZEMA
What is Dyshidrotic Eczema?
• Dyshidrotic eczema, or dyshidrosis, is a skin condition in
which blisters develop on the soles of your feet and/or the palms
of your hands. The blisters are usually itchy and may be filled with
fluid. Blisters normally last for about two to four weeks and may
be related to seasonal allergies or stress.

23. DYSHIDROTIC
ECZEMA

24. DYSHIDROTIC
ECZEMA
CAUSES:
• The exact cause of dyshidrotic eczema is unknown.
Experts believe that the condition may be related to
seasonal allergies, such as hay fever, so blisters may erupt
more frequently during the spring allergy season

25. DYSHIDROTIC
ECZEMA
SYMPTOMS
• If you have dyshidrotic eczema, you’ll notice blisters forming
on your fingers, toes, hands, or feet. The blisters may be more
common on the edges of these areas and will probably be full
of fluid.
• The blisters will usually be very itchy and may cause your
skin to flake. Affected areas may become cracked or painful to
the touch.
• The blisters may last up to three weeks before they begin to
dry. As the blisters dry up, they’ll turn into skin cracks that
may be painful. If you have been scratching the affected areas,
you may also notice that your skin seems thicker or feels
spongy.

26. DYSHIDROTIC
ECZEMA
TREATMENT:
• Corticosteroid cream or ointment that you apply directly to your
skin for mild outbreaks or, for more severe outbreaks, you may be
prescribed a corticosteroid injection or pill.
• Other medical treatments used are:
• UV light treatments
• draining large blisters
• antihistamines
• various anti-itch creams
• immune-suppressing ointments, such as Protopic and Elidel (this is
a rare treatment option)
• If your skin becomes infected, then you will also be prescribed
antibiotics or other medications to treat the infection.