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Articles
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Diagnosis of Lichen sclerosus
Lichen sclerosus is usually diagnosed by combining a careful clinical history, a focused physical examination, and, when needed, a biopsy of affected tissue. In many cases, the appearance and location of the skin changes are distinctive enough that an experienced clinician can make a strong presumptive diagnosis from the examination alone. Confirmation is important because…
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Diagnosis of Lichen planus
Lichen planus is usually identified through a combination of clinical assessment and, when needed, confirmatory tissue examination. It is an inflammatory disorder that affects the skin, mouth, scalp, nails, and sometimes the genital area. Because its appearance can overlap with several other conditions, diagnosis is important not only for naming the disease but also for…
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Diagnosis of Impetigo
Impetigo is usually diagnosed by its appearance and by the pattern of skin change it creates, rather than by any single definitive laboratory finding in most routine cases. It is a superficial bacterial infection of the outer layers of the skin, most often caused by Staphylococcus aureus or Streptococcus pyogenes . These organisms produce toxins…
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Diagnosis of Hyperhidrosis
Hyperhidrosis is diagnosed by combining clinical observation, patient history, and, when needed, targeted tests that rule out other causes of excessive sweating. The condition involves sweating that exceeds what is necessary for temperature regulation, often because the sweat glands are being driven by overactive sympathetic nervous system signaling. In primary hyperhidrosis, this overactivity occurs without…
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Diagnosis of Hidradenitis suppurativa
Hidradenitis suppurativa, often abbreviated HS, is identified primarily through clinical evaluation rather than a single confirmatory laboratory test. It is a chronic inflammatory skin disease that affects areas where skin rubs together, especially the armpits, groin, buttocks, inner thighs, and under the breasts. The condition develops when hair follicles become blocked and inflamed, leading to…
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Diagnosis of Herpes zoster
Herpes zoster, also called shingles, is usually diagnosed through a combination of clinical observation, patient history, and, when needed, laboratory confirmation. The condition results from reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus, the same virus that causes chickenpox. After a prior infection, the virus can remain dormant in sensory nerve tissue for years and later reactivate, traveling…
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Diagnosis of Herpes simplex
Herpes simplex is usually diagnosed through a combination of clinical observation and laboratory testing. The condition is caused by herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) or type 2 (HSV-2), both of which infect epithelial cells and establish lifelong latency in sensory nerve ganglia. Because the virus can remain dormant and reactivate intermittently, diagnosis is not…