Mind the skin

Dr Alka Dogra

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In India, especially in the northern region, we have starkly different seasons that have a marked impact on the skin. Therefore viral infections are common. Here are some of the ones you need to watch out for.

n Herpes Simplex: In this infection, grouped vesicles appear around the mouth region, which heel in a week’s time. The primary attack is severe and the recurrent attacks are milder. The virus stays in the nerve roots of the skin and hence recurrence is likely.

n Pityriasis Rosea: It is again a viral infection or some people think that it is an allergic reaction to a virus. Round, red lesions, which are coin-shaped, appear on the chest, back, upper arms and thighs. They look like ring worms, but that is not the case. Whitish scales appear on the margins. They are slightly itchy and very extensive. They are usually preceded by a red patch, which appears about a week before, and is bigger in size.

n Chicken Pox (Varicella): Polymorphic lesions appear with fever and weakness. Sometimes, even hospitalisation is required, especially if any adult gets it. Vaccination against chicken pox during childhood helps.

n Warts and molluscum contagiosm: Papular lesions appear. They are skin-coloured in some and brownish in others. Solid lesions that appear have to be cauterised either chemically or frozen.

(Dr Dogra is a Ludhiana-based dermatologist)

(As told to Poonam Bindra)