5 Common Causes of Skin Inflammation & How To Prevent It

Skin inflammation affects millions of people around the world and can cause them a lot of discomfort and irritation. But what causes this uncomfortable skin condition? Well, there are five common causes of skin inflammation, and many of them are preventable.

1. Skin Infections

Dry, flaky, and cracked skin can easily become infected by bacteria, viruses, or fungus. This can cause a number of painful skin inflammations, including bacterial infections like impetigo or Viral infections like shingles. Each type of infection requires its own type of treatment, and if left untreated inflammations can grow or even cause further health problems.

The warning signs of a skin infection can accelerate quickly. Early or preventative treatment can reduce pain and discomfort. Bacterial infections often show up as swelling and redness on the skin, often accompanied by discoloured patches or bumps on the surface.

Viral infections usually present as small skin-coloured, red, or white bumps in a patch of the skin or around the torso. Fungal infections can cause odour, excess moisture on clothing after wear, or even from flakes of yellowed skin left behind on clothes or socks.

2. Allergic Reactions

Many skin problems can be caused by an allergic response and may be a symptom of a larger allergic reaction. The allergic reactions are mostly caused by something eaten or drunk, or by a natural or artificial substance that the skin has been exposed to. Some common household items like laundry soap, shampoo, or moisturizers can cause an allergic reaction or irritation on the skin.

Signs of an allergic reaction on the skin will often be redness, dryness, irritation and itchiness, as well as bumps or raised scales, known as plaques. Early treatment can help reduce irritation, swelling, and pain associated with these skin reactions.

Testing for allergies can help people to take steps to prevent inflammations from allergic reactions and help to prepare treatments in the event of an outbreak on the skin. If reactions persist, consult a qualified allergist. They can help identify triggers for attacks and effective treatments.

3. Auto-Immune Dysfunction

This is a common cause of a number of different skin problems, including eczema, psoriasis, and lupus. Auto-immune dysfunction happens when the body’s immune system begins attacking healthy cells. This can happen to skin cells and cause swelling, redness, itching, and pain in affected areas. 

Skin that is inflamed as the result of auto-immune problems could be a symptom of a larger medical issue and should be investigated by your family doctor or a dermatologist. You cannot cure these types of skin conditions. However, there are treatments available that can help manage the problem and reduce pain and swelling. A dermatologist can help decide which is the best treatment for any condition.

Creams, steroids, and ointments work well for skin conditions caused by an auto-immune response. Some more severe cases can be treated with phototherapy, which uses light to treat the skin.

4. Sunburn & Sun Damage

These are by far the most common skin problems that people experience every day. When the skin is burned by overexposure to the sun it is literally being cooked. This reduces the amount of moisture in the skin, causing dry skin and irritation. Extreme cases of overexposure can result in blistering, and repeated and prolonged overexposure can cause skin cancers.

Even mild sunburn will inflame the skin, cause dryness and itchiness, and cause redness and swelling. This can often be effectively treated by applying moisturizer or aftersun products, or with cool showers or baths and drinking plenty of water. More severe cases that include blistering of the skin may need more treatment, and some cases may require a visit to an emergency room.

Sun damage can cause longer-term problems that may not present themselves until long after exposure to the sun. Actinic keratosis is a skin irritation that presents as a rough and scaly patch of the skin and may not show up until weeks or months after overexposure to the sun or may remain after treatment for a bad sunburn. This needs the attention of a dermatologist to evaluate the severity of the skin inflammation and how best to treat it. These patches of skin can develop skin cancer later so need to be taken seriously.

The best way to treat sunburn and sun damage is to prevent it. When tanning always use sunscreen with an appropriate skin protection factor and limit prolonged periods spent in the sun. Seek shade regularly and reapply sunscreen after bathing or swimming, and at regular intervals.

5. Heat Rash

These rashes are common in children, especially in hot climates and on tropical vacations. The sweat glands clog and prevent the body from regulating its temperature through sweating. This can raise body temperature and cause inflammation on the skin. 

Heat rashes can be treated at home, though if the problem persists you should consult with your family doctor. Applying a cool, damp washcloth to the affected areas can be very soothing and help to diminish swelling and irritation. If the heat rash is in many areas of the body, or a very large patch of the body, then a cool bath without soap may be a more effective treatment.

Itchy rashes can be treated with hydrocortisone creams and lowering the body temperature with cold drinks or ice cream can also provide relief and reduce the severity of the symptoms. If the heat rash gets worse, spreads, or persists after one or two days a doctor should assess the rash and suggest how to continue treatment.

Hopefully, this short guide has helped you learn how to identify some of the different skin inflammations and their causes, and how you can treat them. These problems affect millions every day and could affect you or a loved one soon.

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