Integumentary System Disorders

Introduction

Integumentary system is composed of organs which cover the body externally thus providing protection of inner organs. It is composed of the skin whose cells secrete melanin, a component which protects the body from radiation damage. Radiation injuries, infection by pathogens and genetic disorders or chemicals cause diseases of the system; such as melanoma, rosacea, ringworms, acne, psoriasis, warts, and eczema among many others.

Melanoma

It is the least common but deadliest form of skin cancer which originates from melanocytes; skin cells which produce the melanin pigment. It is caused by ultra violet sun rays and mostly women aged 29-34 years are affected. A spot on the skin or a bump appears; irregularly shaped but mostly flat, which can be multicolored or white, brown and/or even blue. The spot might be tender, oozy, itchy and/or even bleeding.  When the spot forms on the eye’s iris or sclera, it may be painful and may lead to loss of vision, gradually. Melanoma malignant may be removed surgically, by chemotherapy use of cryosurgery; the targeted tissue is freezed by use of liquid nitrogen. Melanoma might be prevented when one avoids too much exposure to UV rays (Anderson, Rings & Pugh, 2002).

Rosacea

It is a condition whereby the victim’s cheeks and nose swell and appear reddish which spreads widely on the face. It is caused by face blood vessels’ abnormalities.  The victim experiences facial burning and as if the skin is tightly stretched, cheeks swell and face redness spreads widely on the face. Rosacea may be mild, moderate and severe which may take it very long to curb. It is often diagnosed in women above 30 years of age (Diegel, Danilenko & Wojcinski, 2018). The victim may be required to take oral antibiotics; such as oral tetracycline or metronidazole in order to reduce the redness and blemishes. Treatment may be throughout his lifespan because when therapy is halted, rosacea recurs. Rhinophyma, the third stage, can be effectively and easily treated by application of standard or laser surgery techniques. From the above, it can be drawn that integumentary system diseases and disorders maybe widely avoided by controlled exposure to UV and other high frequency rays.