I am concerned about a funny patch of skin and wanted to know if you could give me advice?

The SCC has not been set up to provide advice, although its member organisations can help if you have a skin condition that has been diagnosed (patient group members). If you are not sure what is wrong with you then we recommend you consult your GP who may be able to treat you. If necessary, they will be able to refer you to a specialist.

I have itchy dry skin and have tried lots of treatments from my GP but nothing is making it go away. My GP says that all we can do is control the itching and does not seem keen to do any more about it, but I’m desperate for the horrible redness to go away.

Many conditions can cause itchy skin and some may even be environmentally driven through irritation or allergy to substances around you. If your itching is due to a skin disease such as eczema then it may be that your GP is right – it is currently only possible to control not cure many conditions although new treatments are coming through all the time. The best person to talk through your concerns with is your GP. If you have any concerns about talking openly with your GP, you may find it useful to look at 'getting the best out of your GP' on the Acne Support Group Website: www.stopspots.org. If your GP is unable to provide an accurate diagnosis or successful treatment, or if you are not happy with the advice given by your GP, you should request a referral to a specialist.

My skin is very prone to excessive scarring and I have many keloid scars as a result of mosquito bites as a child. They are very ugly – is there anything that can make them go away?

There are treatments that can help manage old scarring, but these are not always 100 per cent successful. Our recommendation would be that you talk to your GP about your concerns and if appropriate he will be able to refer you to a specialist for advice. For new wounds, there are over the counter treatments that may help reduce the risk of severe scarring and for this you should consult a pharmacist.

Please can you tell me if the treatment I am using is the best possible one for my condition?

The SCC is unable to provide medical or product-specific advice. Once you have been diagnosed, if there is a patient group, it may be able to give you general information. Otherwise, as a general rule, if the treatment seems to be having a beneficial effect in controlling your symptoms and you are happy with it then there may be little reason to change. If you are concerned that it is not helping, or if you feel there are side effects, then it is worth discussing your concerns with your GP or specialist.

I have been told that my skin condition is not curable, but there must be something that will help me? Where can I go for advice?

Many skin problems cannot be cured, but can be well controlled with effective treatment. You may find more information through a patient group. You could also ask your GP for a referral to a specialist if you have not seen one.

Can alternative therapies help my skin condition?

Be very wary of anyone or anything claiming to cure a skin condition as a few unscrupulous companies and individuals seek to take advantage although some alternative therapies may help ease symptoms. The APPGS report includes guidelines for choosing an alternative therapy or treatment and we recommend that you read these to ensure that you find a genuinely safe alternative.

What can I do to alleviate stress, which seems to make my skin so much worse?

Too much stress may well affect your general well-being, including your skin – for more advice click here.

I am suffering bullying at school because of my skin condition. Please help me – it is affecting my whole life and I feel so desperate.

Patient support groups specific to your condition may be able to provide advice and support. You may also like to talk to Childline and/or the Samaritans.

Someone told me that my skin disease is because I am dirty. I don’t think that I am dirty, but I am worried now that it might be true?

While personal hygiene is important, it is very rare indeed for lack of it to be the cause of a skin disease. Washing with soap can dry the skin and make a dry skin condition like eczema worse. Obviously, you should wash, bath or shower often enough to keep clean, and it is sensible to use a soap substitute if you have dry skin. Your pharmacist will be able to advise you about this.

Are any skin diseases curable?

There are treatments for some skin conditions including athlete’s foot, impetigo, ringworm, which make them curable. Some like eczema and psoriasis cannot be cured, but can usually be managed so that their effects are minimised. The best option is to consult your pharmacist or GP for more advice on your particular skin problem.

My friend has really spotty skin and she says it isn’t catching, but I’m really worried to touch her

Occasionally a small blister can be a cold sore but even this will only be transferred by direct skin contact with friction, for example, passionate kissing, not just touch. Take a look at www.stopspots.org to find out the real facts about spots.

I am so upset – I have just been told that I have a skin condition and that I will never be cured. Is this true? And why me? Is it something that I have done?

First have a look and see if there is a patient group, which will have in depth knowledge of the condition and experience in counselling people who have just been diagnosed. If there is no patient group then go back to your GP practice and speak to your practice nurse or GP again for more support. There are many reasons why skin diseases occur or recur. Many are not curable, but for most there are good treatments to limit the problems.

I have eczema and have been prescribed strong steroid cream by my doctor, but I’m concerned about side effects from using it

As with any medication, there are safe and unsafe ways of using topical steroids. Follow the advice you have been given and, if you are really worried, go back and talk to your doctor again. Many people use steroid cream to control their eczema with no adverse effects. Using emollients as well as the prescribed steroids will also help to control your eczema.

Am I entitled to an increase in the Disability Allowance if I am a single parent with a child who has chronic eczema?

The National Eczema Society should be able to advise you about this.

How can I find a dermatologist?

In order to obtain an appointment with a consultant dermatologist within the UK – either on the NHS or privately – you must be referred by a GP.

I am interested in receiving further information on dermatology service provision for my research/ studies. Can you help?

See British Association of Dermatologists
and APPGS

We are looking into developing a dermatology liaison nurse post in our region – where can we go for further information

See British Association of Dermatologists
and APPGS

Where can I find advice about how to improve my dermatology-related knowledge and experience?

See British Association of Dermatologists
and Atlas of Dermatology Training (see right hand menu bar)