Results for: Adult :: Female :: Arm
Adults' arms can be the site of a large variety of skin conditions, ranging from rashes, to infection, to skin cancer. Many of these conditions are displayed in the pictures below. In the adult, there are several chronic problems that are often seen on the arm. Psoriasis commonly causes a raised rash on the elbows. Vitiligo is caused by the destruction of pigment cells, called melanocytes, and typically involves the hands and forearms. Some people have a hereditary condition called ichthyosis vulgaris that, which causes the skin to scale and take on the appearance of fish scales. Keratosis pilaris is another chronic condition that gives the appearance of goose bumps and is caused by skin proteins building up around the hair follicle. Click the images below for information on these and other skin problems that commonly involve the arm.
Actinic Keratosis (Solar Keratosis)
Actinic keratoses, also known as solar keratoses, are small rough or scaly areas of skin due to damage from sun exposure. Some actinic keratoses can turn into squamous cell skin cancer, so it is important to perform…
Allergic Contact Dermatitis
Allergic contact dermatitis is a delayed hypersensitivity reaction (the reaction to the allergen occurs 48–72 hours after exposure). The most common allergens causing allergic contact dermatitis…
Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC)
Basal cell carcinoma (BCC), also known as basal cell epithelioma, is the most common form of skin cancer. Basal cell carcinoma usually occurs on sun-damaged skin, especially in light-skinned individuals with a…
Bedbug Bite
Bedbugs are small wingless parasites that come out at night to feed. They live in dry, dark crevices such as the seams of mattresses, furniture, floorboards, wallpaper, and suitcases. Their only food source is…
Boils (Furunculosis)
Boils (furuncles) are painful pus-filled bumps on the skin resulting from the deep infection of a hair follicle. The infection is usually caused by a type of bacteria called
Staphylococcus aureus (staph).
Bug Bite or Sting
Bites or stings from insects (arthropods) are very common. Most reactions are mild and result due to an allergic reaction to either the insect or the toxins injected with the bite or sting.
Cellulitis
Cellulitis is an infection of the skin and is most often caused by the bacteria
Streptococcus or
Staphylococcus. These bacteria are able to enter the skin through small cracks (fissures), causing…
Eczema (Atopic Dermatitis)
Eczema (atopic dermatitis) is a disorder is associated with dry skin, which begins with intense itching that is aggravated by scratching. The exact cause of eczema is unknown, and there is no known cure.
Flat Wart
Warts are growths of the skin and mucous membranes (the mouth or genitals) that are caused by over 100 types of the human papillomavirus (HPV). The virus causes thickening of the top skin layer. Flat warts tend to stay…
Folliculitis
Folliculitis is a skin condition caused by an inflammation of one or more hair follicles in a limited area. It typically occurs in areas of irritation, such as sites of shaving, skin friction, or rubbing from…
Gout
Gout, also called gouty arthritis, is a disease of how the body processes nutrients (metabolism) in which crystals of uric acid are deposited in the joints, tendons, and skin. Most commonly affecting men, gout…
Granuloma Annulare
Granuloma annulare is a common skin condition characterized by bumps appearing over the joints and the backs of the hands. Its cause is not known, and most episodes of granuloma annulare clear up after a few years…
Hives (Urticaria)
Hives (urticaria), also known as welts, is a common skin condition with an itchy rash of pink to red bumps that appear and disappear anywhere on the body. An individual lesion of hives typically lasts a few hours…
Irritant Contact Dermatitis
Irritant contact dermatitis is an inflammatory rash caused by direct chemical injury to the skin. Unlike allergic contact dermatitis, which appears 48–72 hours after exposure to an allergen, the symptoms…
Keratoacanthoma
Keratoacanthoma (KA) is a rapidly growing skin cancer usually appearing as a volcano-like bump on the sun-exposed skin of middle-aged and elderly individuals. Many scientists consider keratoacanthoma to be a…
Keratosis Pilaris
Keratosis pilaris is a very common benign skin condition appearing as small, whitish bumps on the upper arms and thighs, especially of children and young adults. Individual lesions of keratosis pilaris arise when…
Lichen Planus
Lichen planus (LP) is a disease of the skin and, less often, the scalp, fingernails, toenails, and/or inside the mouth or genitalia (mucous membranes). Lichen planus can resolve on its own without treatment or be…
Lichen Simplex Chronicus
Lichen simplex chronicus (LSC), also known as neurodermatitis circumscripta, is an itchy skin condition causing thickened skin at the areas of skin injured by repeated scratching and rubbing. Lichen simplex…
Lyme Disease
Lyme disease is the result of infection with the bacteria
Borrelia burgdorferi. The disease is transmitted by infected ticks that also feed on mice and deer. The tick can be found attached to the skin in many…
Nummular Dermatitis
Nummular dermatitis is a particular form of eczema (atopic dermatitis) characterized by coin-shaped, raised areas on the skin that are scaly. The cause of nummular dermatitis is not known, but it is associated…
Poison Ivy, Oak, and Sumac
Poison ivy, poison oak, or poison sumac dermatides are a reaction to the rhus antigen, which is found in poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac plants.
Post-Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation
Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation is darkening of the skin in an area of prior injury or skin disorder from increased pigment (melanin) left from the healing process. Sometimes the darkening may also be due to…
Psoriasis
Psoriasis is a noncontagious, lifelong skin condition that affects about 2–3% of the population of the United States. People with psoriasis have thickened, red, and often scaly patches on their skin.
Ringworm (Tinea Corporis)
Tinea infections are commonly called ringworm because some may form a ring-like pattern on affected areas of the body. Tinea corporis, also known as ringworm of the body, tinea circinata, or simply ringworm, is a…
Scabies
Scabies is an infestation of the skin caused by a tiny mite called
Sarcoptes scabiei var.
hominis. Scabies is very contagious and spreads rapidly in crowded areas such as hospitals, nursing…
Scaly Skin (Ichthyosis Vulgaris)
Ichthyosis vulgaris, also known as common ichthyosis or fish scale disease, is a skin condition resulting in scaly skin, especially on the arms and legs. Its name is derived from the Greek word meaning "fish."
Solar Lentigo
A solar lentigo (plural, solar lentigines), also known as a sun-induced freckle or senile lentigo, is a dark (hyperpigmented) lesion caused by natural or artificial ultraviolet (UV) light. Solar lentigines may…
Sunburn
Sunburn is caused by the skin's reaction to ultraviolet light exposure. It appears as reddening and tenderness of the skin and usually occurs between 12 and 24 hours after the exposure.
Tinea Versicolor
Tinea versicolor, also known as pityriasis versicolor, is a common, non-cancerous (benign) skin condition caused by surface (superficial) infection with a type of yeast that normally lives on the skin. In the…
Vitiligo
Vitiligo is a disease where the immune system turns against itself (autoimmune disease) where immune cells of the body attack the color-producing (pigment-producing) cells to cause white patches on the skin…
Abscess
An abscess is an infection characterized by a collection of pus underneath a portion of the skin. Bacteria commonly causing abscesses are
Staphylococcus aureus and
Streptococcus. These bacteria…
Dermatofibroma
Dermatofibromas, or histiocytomas, are common non-cancerous (benign) skin growths. They are firm to hard, and they are skin-colored or slightly pigmented.
Dry Skin (Xerosis)
Dry skin (xerosis) is a condition of rough, dry skin with fine scaling of skin and, occasionally, with small cracks in the skin. Dry skin is also known as winter itch or asteatosis.
Erythema Nodosum
Erythema nodosum is a skin condition characterized by the sudden eruption of tender, red bumps, particularly on the shins. It represents inflammation of the deeper portions of the skin (the adipose tissue, or…
Hot Tub Rash (Pseudomonas Folliculitis)
Hot tub rash (
Pseudomonas folliculitis) is an infection of the hair follicle with
Pseudomonas bacteria. It is most commonly seen in people who bathe in a contaminated spa, swimming pool, or hot tub.
Lentigo Simplex
Lentigo simplex is a type of color-containing (pigmented) lesion not caused by sun exposure, which looks like the freckle-like condition (lentigo) caused by sun exposure (solar lentigo). In both conditions, an…
Melanoma
Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United Sates, and it is the sixth most common cause of cancer death in the United States. Melanoma is the least common of the skin cancers (the other types are squamous…
Mole, Atypical (Atypical Nevus)
Atypical moles (atypical nevi) or dysplastic moles (dysplastic nevi), are caused by collections of the color-producing (pigment-producing) cells of the skin (melanocytes) in which the cells grow in an abnormal…
Seborrheic Keratosis
Seborrheic keratoses are common benign growths of unknown cause seen in adults due to a thickening of an area of the top skin layer.
Shingles (Zoster)
Shingles, also known as herpes zoster, is a painful rash caused by the varicella-zoster virus, the same virus that causes chickenpox. After a person recovers from chickenpox, the virus remains sleeping…
Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC)
Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is the second most common form of skin cancer. Squamous cell carcinoma usually occurs on sun-damaged skin, especially in light-skinned individuals with a long history of chronic sun…
Stretch Marks of Pregnancy (Striae of Pregnancy)
Striae gravidarum, stretch marks in pregnancy, occur in about 90% of all pregnant women. They are primarily due to the rapid rate at which the skin is being stretched, combined with the influence of hormones.
