There are many common skin diseases, affecting millions of people each year. Though these disorders are prevalent, most people don’t know what their skin disease is or how to treat it.

For example, a person may think they have molluscum, when really, they have eczema. This blog post will inform you of a few common skin diseases and viruses that are frequently confused with molluscum contagiosum.

1. Common warts are small little lumps that can feel rough or grainy. Warts typically appear on the hands and fingers of both adults and children and are caused by a virus, usually affecting people with a weakened immune system. The easiest way you can tell if you have a wart is the presence of small black dots. Warts can appear to be other skin diseases because they are flesh colored like molluscum lesions, so normally a biopsy is necessary to determine the appropriate diagnosis. These pesky and unsightly bumps can go away on their own, but because they can last for a very long time, many people opt to have them removed via cryotherapy or acid treatments.
2. This is a condition that causes red patches to appear on the face, along with small, hard lumps. Rosacea affects both men and women, but middle-aged women are the most commonly diagnosed. The direct cause of rosacea is unknown, but certain factors like stress, sunlight, and hot baths can make it worse. Rosacea can appear to be other skin diseases like acne, psoriasis, or eczema, so it requires a physical examination to get a proper diagnosis. To treat rosacea, various medications can make a difference in the appearance of the rash. In more severe cases where the underlying blood vessels are inflamed, surgical options may be considered to lessen the visibility of those vessels.
3. Eczema is a skin condition in the form of a nasty rash found on random areas of the body. Because of the severity of the rash, blisters can also form. Anyone can suffer from this condition but the severity can vary from person to person. An Eczema rash can be very itchy for a while but then just when the itching is over; it may in fact get worse. The itching of eczema is the first sign, followed by the skin becoming dry and flaky. Some patients are very uncomfortable due to constant itching. Unlike other skin diseases, eczema is not contagious; its exact cause is unknown but is believed to be a result of genetics and environmental factors. Diagnosis is typically made through a simple visual examination of the impacted areas. There is no cure for eczema, but the irritation associated with it can be managed with moisturizers and other creams. It can be confused with molluscum because both have bumps and can be itchy.

It’s very important to be able to recognize the symptoms you have for your particular skin disease so that you can get appropriate medical treatment.