How Obesity impacts the skin?

Skin health and obesity are relative and can be influenced by various factors. Body fat secretes cytokines and other inflammatory molecules contributing to skin inflammation and other skin conditions like acne, psoriasis and eczema. Skin tags and skin growths become rampant in obese people. Skin obesity affects the immune system, circulatory system and cellular functioning leading to melanoma and squamous cell carcinoma.

What are the impacts of obesity on the skin?
Obesity results in the changes in the physiology of the skin:

• Increase in transepidermal water loss.
• Increase in sebum production.
• Large skin folds due to thickened layer of subcutaneous fat.
• Poor lymphatic flow resulting in lymphedema.
• Poor collagen production leading to skin damage.
• Increased stretch marks called hyperhidrosis.
• Fungal infection like candida and dermatophytes.
• Bacterial infection like erythrasma.
• High insulin levels leads to skin tags.
• The release of inflammatory mediators leads to genesis of Psoriasis.

Challenges in managing skin conditions in obesity
The reason reasons why it is difficult to manage skin problems in obese patients are due to the difficulty in applying topical treatments, increased moistness and friction, poor vascularization resulting in slow healing and heightened risk of infection.

Professional help for skin conditions due to obesity
It is important to diagnose and treat skin conditions related to obesity. For this you should seek professional help. Dermatologist focuses on identifying and treating the condition. They can treat skin conditions like skin tags, acanthosis nigricans, hidradenitis suppurativa, all of which are related to obesity.

Consulting a dermatologist and kick starting a personalised treatment plan can quickly and safely give you a glowing and healthy skin. Some of the recommended treatments from dermatologists for obesity-oriented skin conditions include:

• Topical creams containing retinoid or alpha hydroxyl acid to lighten the affected area
• Surgical removal of skin tags or other skin growths that are benign
• Antibiotics to treat bacterial infections in case of hidradenitis suppurativa
• Corticosteroid injections to treat keloids or hypertrophic scars

Helios Skin located in Alwarpet, is the laser skin treatment Chennai centre offering a host of services to heal skin affected by obesity. They offer best skin treatment in Chennai after diagnosing your conditions. If you are looking for a glowing, happy and healthy skin call us for an appointment.