MSc.BS Phan Ngoc Huy, Department of Dermatology, Ho Chi Minh City Dermatology Hospital, said that many skin lesions that seem simple can be signs of dangerous diseases.
Self-treatment or following online instructions can make the disease worse, making diagnosis and treatment difficult.
According to Dr. Huy, the first group that needs special attention is moles or skin lesions with abnormal signs such as asymmetry, uneven edges, changing color, rapidly increasing size or appearing symptoms of itching, pain, bleeding. This may be a warning sign of skin cancer. Patients should not self-burn or apply medicine but need to be examined by a specialist.
In addition, cases of whole-body rashes, peeling skin, lesions in the eyes, mouth, genitals, facial edema or shortness of breath may be related to severe drug allergic reactions, requiring timely emergency care. Similarly, skin infections such as cellulitis, zona, widespread fungal infections or bacterial infections can progress seriously if treated incorrectly.
A common mistake is self-using creams containing corticosteroids. Medications can temporarily reduce symptoms but cause fungal, viral or parasitic diseases to spread, causing complications and making diagnosis difficult.
Cosmetic procedures such as filler injections, botulinum toxin, mesotherapy or "whitening" services at home or unlicensed establishments also pose a risk of infection, blood clots, skin necrosis, and even permanent vision loss.
For severe acne, melasma and freckles, self-squeezing acne or using mixed creams and rapid whitening products can cause pitted scars, thin skin, increased pigmentation and worsen the condition. Chronic skin diseases such as psoriasis, atopic dermatitis or lupus also need to be monitored and treated for a long time according to a doctor's regimen.
When should you see a dermatologist?
According to MSc. Dr. Phan Ngoc Huy, information on the internet is only for reference, and cannot replace direct examination. People should go to a dermatology specialist facility when signs such as rapid red rash, blisters, ulcers accompanied by fever or fatigue appear; abnormal mole changes; rash accompanied by joint pain, muscle weakness, weight loss or prolonged fever.
In addition, if you have been self-treated for about two weeks but the disease does not improve, or even becomes redder, more itchy, or irritation appears, the patient needs to be assessed by a doctor to avoid unnecessary complications.
What consequences can self-medication with skin medication cause?
Dr. Huy warns that arbitrarily using topical or oral medications to treat skin diseases can cause many consequences. With topical medications, abuse of corticosteroids is a common condition, leading to thin skin, blood vessels, redness, acne, and drug dependence.
Applying the wrong medication can also make the disease worse. For example, corticosteroids used on skin areas infected with fungus or viruses can cause widespread damage and loss of the characteristic signs of the disease.
Meanwhile, self-use of strong peeling products or high-concentration acids has the risk of causing prolonged skin burns, dark skin, and even leaving scars.
For oral medications, many skin treatment drugs are prescription drugs that need to be closely monitored by doctors. Typically, isotretinoin for severe acne can cause dry lips, dry eyes, increased liver enzymes, dyslipidemia and especially the risk of fetal defects if used during pregnancy.
In addition to isotretinoin, drugs such as methotrexate, cyclosporine, oral corticosteroids or biological drugs all need to be monitored periodically to detect early side effects affecting the liver, kidneys, hematopoietic system and many other organs.
Experts recommend that people should not arbitrarily buy medicine, change dosages or stop taking medicine based on feelings. Correct diagnosis and correct treatment from the beginning are still the safest and most effective solutions to limit long-term complications.
