Allergies, irritants, genetic makeup, certain diseases, and immune system problems can cause skin conditions.
Acne
What is acne? It is caused when blocked skin follicles from a plug caused by oil from glands, bacteria, and dead cells clump together and swell.Alopecia Areata
What is alopecia areata? It is a condition that attacks your hair follicles (they make hair). In most cases, hair falls out in small, round patches.Atopic Dermatitis
What is atopic dermatitis? It is a skin disease causing much itchiness. Scratching leads to redness, swelling, cracking, weeping clear fluid, crusting, and scaling.Cicatricial Alopecia
What is cicatricial alopecia? It is a group of conditions that destroy hair follicles. Hair follicles are the part of the skin where the hair grows.Epidermolysis Bullosa
What is epidermolysis bullosa? It is a group of diseases causing painful blisters to form on the skin. These blisters can cause problems if they become infected.Ichthyosis
What is ichthyosis? It is a disorder that causes dry, thickened skin that may look similar to fish scales.Lichen Sclerosus
What is lichen sclerosus? It causes white spots or patches on skin of the genital and anal areas, but can appear elsewhere. Itchiness, pain, and bleeding are common.Pachyonychia Congenita
What is pachyonychia congenita? It is a rare disorder causing thick nails and painful calluses on the bottoms of the feet and other symptoms.Pemphigus
What is pemphigus? It is a disease where the immune system attacks healthy cells in the top layer of skin, resulting in blisters.Psoriasis
What is psoriasis? It is a skin disease that causes red, scaly skin that may feel painful, swollen, or hot. Individuals may be susceptible to other conditions.Raynaud’s Phenomenon
What is Raynaud’s phenomenon? It is a disease that affects blood vessels. It causes your body to not send enough blood to the hands and feet for a period of time.Rosacea
What is rosacea? It is a long-term disease that causes reddened skin and pimples, usually on the face. It can also make the skin thicker and cause eye problems.Vitiligo
Vitiligo is a disorder that causes patches of skin to become white. It happens because cells that make color in your skin are destroyed.Selected Research Areas
Dermatology Branch
Led by Dr. Edward Cowen, M.D., the branch conducts both clinical and basic research studying the etiology, diagnosis, and treatment of inflammatory and malignant diseases involving the skin and the host's response to these diseases.
Laboratory of Skin Biology
Led by Dr. Maria Morasso, the lab studies processes that lead to epidermal differentiation and barrier formation, and their role in skin disorders.Scientific Publications
Skin Disease News
Spotlight on Research | July 23, 2016
Ion Channel Found to Play Role in Itch Sensation
Two independent teams of investigators funded in part by the NIH’s National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeleta
Spotlight on Research | April 21, 2016
Two Drugs That Treat Rheumatoid Arthritis and Blood Cancers Shown to Promote Hair Growth
Two drugs—one used to treat rheumatoid arthritis and another for different types of blood cancers—have shown promise in reversing hair loss characteristic of alopecia areata and related disorders, according to a study in mice funded in part by the NIH’s National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS). The study was published in Science Advances.
Spotlight on Research | April 5, 2015
Stem Cell-Based Strategies Offer Personalized Approaches For Treating Inherited Skin Disease
Two new studies funded in part by NIH’s National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS)
Spotlight on Research | January 5, 2015
New Insights Into How Psoriasis Arises and How It Heals
Psoriasis is a chronic skin condition characterized by itchy red patches and silvery scales, usually on the elbows, k
Research Brief | December 15, 2014
Serotonin Drives Vicious Cycle of Itching and Scratching
Scratching an itch brings short-lived relief but often makes the itching worse in the long-term.
Spotlight on Research | November 15, 2014
Chronic UV Exposure Induces Opioid Response That is Associated with Tanning Addiction
Prolonged ultraviolet (UV) light exposure results in an increase of a substance known as β-endorphin, a chemical produced by the body that reduces sensitivity to pain and is associated with addiction, according to a study conducted in mice and funded in part by the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS).
Last Reviewed: 04/20/2017