Skin-Contact Diseases

Even though on television we hear of severe skin diseases such as flesh-eating bacteria, skin-contact diseases aren't always that severe. Even mild respiratory illnesses such as the cold virus can be spread from touching an infected object and then rubbing your eyes, nose or mouth. Skin-contact diseases are spread through touching an infected person or by developing the infection after a skin injury.

Conjunctivitis

• Conjunctivitis (pink eye) is a highly contagious infection of the eye. It can stem from allergies, bacteria, chemical exposure, chlamydia, fungi, parasites and contact lenses. Symptoms of pink eye include inflammation of the membrane lining the eyelid, blurred vision, crusty eyelid, eye pain, a gritty feeling in the eye, tearing, itchiness, redness and sensitivity to light. Because of its high level of contagiousness, doctors usually recommend that you stay at home until your symptoms subside.

Herpes Labialis

• Herpes labialis is caused by the Herpes simplex virus. This virus creates small, painful blisters on the lips, mouth or gums. These blisters are commonly referred to as cold sores or fever blisters. Cold-sore warning signs include itching, tingling, burning and sensitivity occurring about two days before the sore appears. Symptoms include skin lesions, a rash around the infected area, blisters that break and ooze, smaller blisters that may come together to form a bigger blister and mild fever. Herpes lesions are recurring, coming back from time to time, triggered by stress, fever, menstruation and, sometimes, unknown causes. If you have Herpes labialis, you are considered to be contagious until your symptoms go away.

Ringworm

• Ringworm is a fungal infection that affects the scalp, skin, nails or feet. This infection causes pimples to form on the infected areas. These pimples gradually become larger and scale over. Symptoms of ringworm include alopecia areata (patchy hair loss, if the infection is on the scalp) and flat red ring-shaped areas on the skin. Ringworm is spread through touching the skin of an infected person or through touching infected objects such as barber's clippers, infected hair or shower stalls.

Human Papillomavirus (HPV)

• Human papillomavirus is a group of over 100 viruses that are very easily transmitted by skin contact. Contact with the virus mainly happens through sexual intercourse or oral sex. Although you don't actually have to have intercourse to become infected, according to HPVinfo.ca, HPV is considered to be a sexually transmitted infection. Even so, condoms do not offer full protection against the virus since it lives on the skin's surface. Therefore, skin not covered by the condom can still permit transmission.

Impetigo

• Impetigo occurs when skin that usually acts as a protective barrier is somehow broken or torn, allowing the bacteria to enter and grow in the body. This commonly happens with bites (human, insect or animal) and skin injuries, and in some rare cases impetigo may occur with no skin trauma visible at all. Symptoms of impetigo are lesions on the face, lips, arms or legs, swollen lymph nodes near the infected area, itchy pus-filled blisters and a rash which begins as a spot but may spread after scratching.