Acne
What is acne? It is caused when blocked skin follicles from a plug caused by oil from glands, bacteria, and dead cells clump together and swell.Alopecia Areata
What is alopecia areata? It is a condition that attacks your hair follicles (they make hair). In most cases, hair falls out in small, round patches.Atopic Dermatitis
What is atopic dermatitis? It is a skin disease causing much itchiness. Scratching leads to redness, swelling, cracking, weeping clear fluid, crusting, and scaling.Epidermolysis Bullosa
What is epidermolysis bullosa? It is a group of diseases causing painful blisters to form on the skin. These blisters can cause problems if they become infected.Hidradenitis Suppurativa (HS)
Hidradenitis suppurativa (also known as acne inversa) is a chronic, noncontagious, inflammatory condition characterized by pimple-like bumps or boils and tunnels or tracts on and under the skin.Ichthyosis
What is ichthyosis? It is a disorder that causes dry, thickened skin that may look similar to fish scales.Pachyonychia Congenita
What is pachyonychia congenita? It is a rare disorder causing thick nails and painful calluses on the bottoms of the feet and other symptoms.Pemphigus
What is pemphigus? It is a disease where the immune system attacks healthy cells in the top layer of skin, resulting in blisters.Psoriasis
Psoriasis is a skin disease that causes red, scaly skin that may feel painful, swollen, or hot. Learn more about the types and what causes psoriasis.Raynaud’s Phenomenon
What is Raynaud’s phenomenon? It is a disease that affects blood vessels. It causes your body to not send enough blood to the hands and feet for a period of time.Rosacea
What is rosacea? It is a long-term disease that causes reddened skin and pimples, usually on the face. It can also make the skin thicker and cause eye problems.Scleroderma
Scleroderma causes patches of tight, hard skin, but can also harm your blood vessels and organs. Learn the causes and treatments of this skin disease.Vitiligo
Vitiligo is a disorder that causes patches of skin to become white. It happens because cells that make color in your skin are destroyed.Selected Research Areas
Cutaneous Development and Carcinogenesis Section
Led by Dr. Isaac Brownell, the Cutaneous Development and Carcinogenesis Section studies the signaling pathways such as Hedgehog signaling that regulate the development and maintenance of normal skin and the changes in these signals that occur during the formation of skin cancerDermatology Branch
The Dermatology Branch conducts both clinical and basic research studying the etiology, diagnosis, and treatment of inflammatory and malignant diseases involving the skin and the host's response to these diseases.
Laboratory of Skin Biology
Led by Dr. Maria I. Morasso, the lab studies processes of epidermal differentiation, skin barrier formation and wound healing.Skin Disease News
Spotlight on Research | June 22, 2023
Research Into Naturally Occurring Hair Growth in Skin Nevi May Inform New Regenerative Therapies
An international team of researchers funded in part by NIAMS sought to understand why skin nevi grow long hair. The team determined that senescent melanocytes within nevi produce large quantities of several signaling molecules. One such molecule, called osteopontin, causes dormant hair stem cells to wake up, which increases hair growth.
Press Release | June 1, 2023
NIH scientists find treatment for rare genetic skin disorder
Researchers at the NIH and their colleagues have identified genomic variants that cause a rare and severe inflammatory skin disorder, known as disabling pansclerotic morphea, and have found a potential treatment.
Spotlight on Research | May 25, 2023
NIH Researchers Survey the Genetic Diversity of Skin Microbes in Eczema Patients
Using a combination of sequencing techniques, researchers from NIAMS and the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) surveyed the skin microbiome of patients with atopic dermatitis (AD, also called eczema) to understand the genetic diversity of the bacteria present on the skin and how genetic variants may contribute to disease severity.
Spotlight on Research | May 25, 2022
Discussing Bone, Muscle, Skin, & Autoimmune Diseases: Info for American Indians, Alaska Natives - audio
A conversation between Dr. David R. Wilson, director of the NIH Tribal Health Research Office, and Dr. Lindsey A. Criswell, director of NIAMS, about information and resources for American Indians and Alaska Natives related to bone, muscle, skin, and autoimmune diseases.
Spotlight on Research | December 13, 2021
Researchers identify cellular pathway that regulates inflammatory hair loss
NIH researchers reveal new insights about the relationship between hair and hair follicles and the skin’s immune system.