What Is Nail Fungus ? Nail Changes, Causes & Treatment Options
What Is Nail Fungus ? Nail Changes, Causes & Treatment Options Nail fungus, medically called onychomycosis, is a fungal infection of the nail unit that can cause discoloration, thickening, crumbling, debris beneath the nail and separation from the nail bed. Toenails are affected more often than fingernails, and infection may involve dermatophytes, yeasts or non-dermatophyte […]
What Is Mycosis Fungoides? Skin Lymphoma Symptoms, Diagnosis & Treatment Options
What Is Mycosis Fungoides? Skin Lymphoma Symptoms, Diagnosis & Treatment Options Mycosis fungoides is a cutaneous T-cell lymphoma in which malignant T lymphocytes preferentially accumulate in the skin, often beginning as persistent patches that resemble eczema or psoriasis. Despite the word “mycosis,” MF is not a fungal infection, and its cutaneous spectrum ranges from patches […]
What Is Morphea? Hardened Skin Patches, Causes & Treatment Options
What Is Morphea? Hardened Skin Patches, Causes & Treatment Options Morphea, also called localized scleroderma, is an inflammatory and fibrosing disorder that causes localized areas of skin to become thickened, hardened and less flexible. Inflammation activates fibroblasts to produce excess collagen, so an early pink or purple patch can progressively become indurated, sclerotic and bound […]
What Is Molluscum Contagiosum? Viral Skin Bumps, Spread & Treatment Options
What Is Molluscum Contagiosum? Viral Skin Bumps, Spread & Treatment Options Molluscum contagiosum is a contagious poxvirus skin infection that causes small, smooth, firm bumps with a characteristic central dimple. The papules are usually skin-coloured, pink, white or pearly and are especially common in children. The immune system can clear molluscum naturally, but lesions may […]
What Is Milia? Small White Skin Bumps, Causes & Treatment Options
What Is Milia? Small White Skin Bumps, Causes & Treatment Options Milia are tiny benign keratin-filled cysts that appear as firm pearly-white or yellowish bumps just beneath the skin surface. Keratin is a structural protein made by epidermal skin cells, and a milium usually forms as a small dome-shaped cyst on the cheeks, eyelids or […]
What Is Merkel Cell Carcinoma? Warning Signs, Risk Factors & Treatment Options
What Is Merkel Cell Carcinoma? Warning Signs, Risk Factors & Treatment Options Merkel cell carcinoma is a rare aggressive neuroendocrine skin cancer that commonly appears as a rapidly enlarging, painless skin nodule. The lesion is often firm and smooth and may be pink, red, purple or skin-coloured; the head and neck are common locations, but […]
What Is Melanocytic Nevus / Mole? Mole Appearance, Risks & Diagnosis
What Is Melanocytic Nevus / Mole? Mole Appearance, Risks & Diagnosis A melanocytic nevus, commonly called a mole, is a benign skin growth formed when melanocytes cluster together in a localized area. Melanocytes produce pigment, but a benign nevus can be skin-coloured, pink, tan, brown, very dark, flat, raised or dome-shaped depending on its type […]
What Is Mastocytosis? Skin Spots, Triggers & Treatment Options
What Is Mastocytosis? Skin Spots, Triggers & Treatment Options Mastocytosis is a clonal mast-cell disorder in which abnormal mast cells accumulate in the skin or internal organs and can release excessive histamine and other mediators. Mast cells normally participate in immune and allergic responses, but an abnormal clone can create persistent skin lesions together with […]
What Is Malignant Melanoma / Melanoma? Warning Signs, Risk Factors & Treatment Options
What Is Malignant Melanoma / Melanoma? Warning Signs, Risk Factors & Treatment Options Melanoma is a malignant tumour of melanocytes that can invade deeper skin, spread to lymph nodes and metastasize to distant organs if it is not detected and treated early. Melanocytes are pigment-producing cells, and melanoma is distinct from the more common basal […]
What Is Lyme Disease Skin Rash? Appearance, Causes & Treatment Options
What Is Lyme Disease Skin Rash? Appearance, Causes & Treatment Options Erythema migrans is the characteristic early Lyme disease skin rash and usually appears as a gradually enlarging round or oval lesion after infection from an Ixodes tick. Borrelia bacteria are deposited into the skin at the transmission site, where the lesion begins and then […]