Printer-friendly Send to a friend

 

Social bookmark

close

Adult :: Female :: Arm

Update your search results:

Infant Child Teen Adult Male Female Scalp Face Face - Forehead Face - Ear Face - Eye Face - Nose Face - Cheek/Beard Area Face - Lips Face - Mouth Face - Chin Neck Arm Hand Hand - Back of Hand Hand - Palm Hand - Finger Hand - Finger Webspace Hand - Fingernail Armpit Chest Stomach Back Anogenital Buttocks Leg Foot Foot - Top of Foot Foot - Sole Foot - Toe Foot - Toe Webspace Foot - Toenail Widespread Rash

Back to the Skin Disease Finder

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…

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…

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 deeper skin tissue, which is most often caused by the bacteria Streptococcus or Staphylococcus. These bacteria are able to invade the skin through small…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

Psoriasis Psoriasis is a non-contagious, lifelong skin problem with thickened red, and often scaly, skin. It is very likely to run in families (hereditary) and seems to be caused by…

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…

Scabies Scabies is an itchy skin condition caused by a tiny parasite (mite) called Sarcoptes scabiei that can live and multiply (infest) on skin. They are passed between people by prolonged skin-to-skin…

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…

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)…

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…

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…

Abscess An abscess is a infection characterized by a collection of pus underneath a portion of the skin. Bacteria commonly causing abscesses are Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus. These bacteria enter the…

Dermatofibroma Dermatofibromas, or histiocytomas, are common non-cancerous (benign) skin growths. They are firm to hard, and they are skin-colored or slightly pigmented. 

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…

Melanoma Melanoma is a life-threatening form of skin cancer. This cancer starts in the color-producing (pigment-producing) cells of the skin. Melanoma may develop from a previously existing mole…

Mole (Nevus) A mole (nevus) is a non-cancerous (benign) skin lesion that is made up of the color-producing (pigment-producing) cells of the skin (melanocytes). A mole that is present at birth is referred to as a…

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…

Shingles (Zoster) Shingles (zoster), also known as herpes zoster, is a painful rash caused by the varicella zoster virus, the virus that causes chickenpox. When a person gets 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…