Possible Causes Of Sore Skin
The causes of sore skin are almost too numerous to mention. Some causes are obvious, as the symptoms are often very visible, and consist of more than only soreness. Even though the skin is inflamed or a skin rash is present, the underlying cause may not be known, but diagnosis is quite often fairly straightforward. When one has sore skin without any accompanying visible symptoms, an accurate diagnosis can be much more difficult. A burn is easy to diagnose, but sore skin due to a lack of humidity in the air can leave one puzzled as to what exactly is going on.
A Virus Is One Cause - A virus can attack the skin just as it can attack any other organ in the body, with the result the skin may become tender or sore without visible signs that something is wrong. An attack by the shingles virus, which can be extremely painful, is usually (though not always) accompanied by a rash. Other viral disorders may not exhibit any visible symptoms at all. When a viral condition causes sore skin, aspirin can be helpful in relieving the pain until the virus has run its course. It's worth repeating here, that aspirin should not as a rule be given to children or particularly those in their teen years as a possibly fatal condition could set in.
Fibromyalgia Is Another - One of the leading causes of sore skin is fibromyalgia. One of the more common symptoms of fibromyalgia is dry, itchy, or cracked skin. On the other hand, symptoms of fibromyalgia often consist primarily of certain spots being extremely tender to the touch, with no hint of redness or scaly skin present. Such a condition, pain associated with merely touching the skin, is called allodynia, and can be quite disruptive in a person's day to day living. Why fibromyalgia causes the skin problems it does, remains generally unknown, though there are treatments which can alleviate the condition, if not cure it.
Other Possible Causes - Among the other more common causes of sore skin are skin ulcers, psoriasis, cellulitis, a wide range of infections, and diabetic neuropathy. Dermatitis is a leading cause of sore skin, as is sometimes the case with folliculitis. It is not always the skin itself that may be afflicted, as nerve damage or disorders can also provoke tenderness or soreness when a particular spot or area on the body is touched.
Confusion In The Brain - Sometimes a disorder of the nervous system can cause the brain to misinterpret signals sent from the receptors in the skin. This could lead to experiencing pain, or extremely tender skin, when there is really nothing wrong with the skin or adjacent tissues. The brain simply tells us we're hurting, but really doesn't know why. Sore skin, as experienced by fibromyalgia sufferers, is often the result of this faulty communication between nerve endings and the brain. In this case, the person may experience some pain and tenderness, though itchiness is usually much more common.
Treatments - An effective treatment for sore skin can be difficult to prescribe in those cases where the underlying cause is unknown. In those cases, where the soreness is accompanied by a rash, dry skin, or cracked skin, soothing lotions or moisturizers are quite often effective. Oral cortisone prescriptions can be effective, where over-the-counter medications do not provide sufficient relief. Tricyclic antidepressants are also effective in treating sore skin that may be the result of a chronic nerve problem. If it appears to be the skin itself that is the problem, the best advice may be to see a dermatologist or a skin specialist. Other specialists may need to be called in when the cause of sore skin appears to be a complete mystery.