AESTHETICS · DERMATOLOGY
DERMATOLOGY GUIDE
Common skin, hair & nail conditions
Recognising a pattern is the first step, not a diagnosis. Explore common signs, then arrange an individual assessment when symptoms persist, spread or cause concern.
Seek urgent medical care for breathing difficulty, facial swelling, rapidly spreading blistering or painful rash, fever with a new rash, or a rapidly changing or bleeding mole.
Common concerns
Acne vulgaris
Blackheads, whiteheads, inflamed bumps or tender nodules; may affect the face, chest or back. Seek help for scarring or persistent painful acne.
Atopic dermatitis (eczema)
Dry, itchy, inflamed patches that may crack, ooze or thicken; appearance varies by skin tone. Seek help for infection, sleep disruption or poor control.
Psoriasis
Well-defined scaly plaques, scalp scaling, nail pitting or joint symptoms. Seek help for widespread disease, severe pain or swollen joints.
Rosacea
Persistent central facial redness, flushing, visible vessels, bumps or eye irritation. Seek urgent help for painful eyes or visual change.
Vitiligo
Clearly defined areas of pigment loss, sometimes around the eyes, mouth, hands or body folds. Seek assessment for new or spreading colour loss.
Melasma
Symmetric brown or grey-brown facial patches, often on the cheeks, forehead or upper lip. Seek assessment before treatment, especially if pregnant.
Alopecia areata
Sudden smooth round patches of hair loss; brows or nails may be affected. Seek assessment for rapid or extensive hair loss.
Tinea (ringworm)
Itchy, expanding, ring-shaped or scaly patches; the scalp or nails may also be involved. Seek help for scalp disease, diabetes, widespread infection or treatment failure.
Urticaria (hives)
Raised itchy welts that move or change shape, often disappearing within 24 hours. Emergency care is needed for lip or tongue swelling or breathing difficulty.
Shingles
A painful, tingling, blistering rash usually on one side of the body or face. Seek same-day assessment if it is near the eye, during pregnancy, with immune suppression, or severe illness.
Contact dermatitis
An itchy, burning or blistering rash where skin met an irritant or allergen. Seek help for facial or genital involvement, infection, or a persistent rash.
Suspicious moles & skin cancer warning signs
ABCDE: Asymmetry, irregular Border, varied Colour, increasing Diameter, Evolving; also a sore that does not heal. Arrange prompt assessment for change, bleeding or a new lesion.
Images are educational
Clinical photographs are examples only. Skin conditions can look different across skin tones and stages.