Dermatology

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The skin

The skin is the largest and heaviest human organ in terms of size. It has a surface area of 1.5 to 2 m2 and weighs up to 10 kg in a grown adult. Together with the skin appendages such as hair, nails and the sweat and sebaceous glands, the skin shapes the unique appearance of a person and fulfills a number of functi

  • Protective function, acting as a mechanical and chemical barrier to shield the interior of the body
  • Temperature regulation, e.g. by constricting (goose pimples) or dilating the blood vessels (reddened skin)
  • Regulation of homoeostasis, e.g. by excreting fluids and salts (sweating)
  • Sensory function, e.g. perception of heat stimuli, touch, pain
  • Immune function, e.g. defence against infectious diseases
  • Communication, e.g. by blushing or turning pale.

There are a number of different skin diseases. Eczema, allergies, neurodermitis, psoriasis and acne are among the most well-known and frequent. Additional widespread skin diseases are e.g. diaper rash and intertrigo. Skin diseases can also be caused or exacerbated by bacteria or fungi.

As varied the various skin diseases may be in their expression, just as diverse are the therapy options. In principle, however, one distinguishes between internal (systemic) and external (topical) treatment. For many skin diseases topical therapy represents a simple and widely used type of application. Products for external application use a variety of drugs, e.g. cortisone-like substances, anti-microbial substances, antiallergenic substances, wound-healing promoting substances as well as vitamin A and D analogs. Furthermore, some skin diseases can be treated with drugs based on natural products (e.g. sulfonated shale oils) and active ingredients derived from plants (e.g. chamomile extract). Additional alternative treatment methods are, for example, UV therapy, balneotherapy or laser treatment.

It is not always easy to categorise a skin disease accurately and to treat it correctly. Therefore, if there are any unpleasant or noticeable changes in the skin, it is recommended to consult a physician or pharmacist.

You can learn more about the skin diseases known as diaper rash and intertrigo at: www.zincream.ch

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