Skin Lesions: Types, Causes, and What You Need to Know

When you notice a change on your skin—a rash, a bump, a patch that won’t go away—you might panic. But not all skin lesions, abnormal changes in the skin’s appearance that can be flat, raised, colored, or textured. Also known as skin abnormalities, they are far more common than most people realize. Some are harmless, like a pimple or a mole that’s always been there. Others can be warning signs. The key isn’t to fear every spot, but to understand what you’re looking at.

Skin inflammation, the body’s reaction to irritation, infection, or allergy that often leads to redness, swelling, or itching is one of the most frequent causes of visible lesions. It shows up as eczema, psoriasis, or contact dermatitis. These aren’t just cosmetic—they can hurt, itch, and mess with your daily life. Then there’s eczema, a chronic condition that causes dry, itchy, inflamed patches, often on the hands, elbows, or behind the knees, which many people mistake for simple dry skin. And dermatitis, a broad term for inflamed skin triggered by allergens, chemicals, or stress, overlaps with eczema but can also come from exposure to things like poison ivy or new soap.

Stress doesn’t cause skin lesions directly, but it sure makes them worse. If you’ve ever broken out before a big meeting or felt your eczema flare after a sleepless night, you know this. It’s not just in your head—it’s biology. The same nerves that trigger anxiety also mess with your skin’s barrier function. That’s why managing stress isn’t just helpful—it’s part of treatment.

What you see on your skin often tells you what’s happening inside. A persistent lesion that changes shape, bleeds, or doesn’t heal could be skin cancer. A cluster of small blisters might be shingles. A red, scaly patch could be psoriasis. You don’t need to be a doctor to spot red flags: if something new shows up and sticks around for more than two weeks, or if it grows, itches, or hurts, it’s worth checking out.

Most of the time, skin lesions respond well to simple fixes—moisturizers, avoiding triggers, over-the-counter creams. But when they don’t, you need clear info. That’s what this collection is for. You’ll find real, no-fluff breakdowns of what causes skin irritation, how to tell the difference between a harmless spot and something that needs attention, and what treatments actually work without breaking the bank. No jargon. No hype. Just facts you can use.