Skin Lesion Insurance

Any alteration to the skin's typical appearance is referred to as a skin lesion or cutaneous lesion. Any region of the body may see the formation of lesions, which could encompass a small or vast area. Primary skin lesions are the first alteration to the skin, like the emergence of a lump or blister. Alterations made to the primary skin lesion give rise to secondary skin lesions. Primary and secondary skin lesions are intrinsically connected.

Firm lumps, liquid-filled boils, thickened scaly skin patches, and skin tags are all examples of skin lesions. A widespread outbreak of lesions is generally called a rash. A skin lesion can develop for various reasons, from a minor scratch from an accident to a more significant chronic medical problem.

When we talk about the types of skin lesions, the two main types of skin lesions are called primary and secondary skin lesions.

• Primary Skin Lesion- Primary skin lesions constitute aberrant skin conditions that can develop over a person's lifespan or be present at birth.

• Secondary Skin Lesion- Primary skin lesions that have been manipulated or inflamed will lead to secondary skin lesions. For instance, if a mole is scratched until it oozes, creating a thick crust, it will be seen as a secondary skin or cutaneous lesion.

Under these two broad categories fall other types of skin lesions commonly seen in people. These are;

• Acne- Pimples, whiteheads, blackheads and cysts can all be symptoms of acne. It might not be harmful to some people but might leave scars or lower self-esteem for others. Dead skin layers and the skin's oil, known as sebum, cause acne to appear by clogging skin pores. Additionally, bacteria might enter the blocked pores and irritate the sores.

• Blisters- A watery liquid known as serum escapes from the underlying tissue into the wounded part of the skin when it is hurt, forming what we generally call a blister. The most frequent triggers of blisters are burns, friction, inflammation, and allergies. If not tampered with, blisters usually ebb on their own in a few days.

• Moles- Moles are rectangular or circular skin spots that seem darker than the adjacent skin. Common, congenital, and atypical moles are the three main moles most frequently found in people.

• Hives- Hives are allergic reactions resembling a red, lumpy, itchy rash. Normally, hives disappear on their own after a few days.

• Psoriasis- Typically, psoriasis manifests as scaly or painful skin patches. Although they can form in any area, the patches typically emerge on the hairline, elbows, or ankles. Psoriasis is an autoimmune condition.

• Cold Sores- Cold sores, which resemble blisters, may occur on or near the lips. Most of the time, the person does not even realise its existence before it starts hurting. Various circumstances, including stress and sunlight exposure, might cause an onset of the sores. However, in a few weeks, cold sores typically disappear.

• Eczema- Eczema is widespread and frequently manifests as irritated, rosy patches on the skin. They can be seen in any area of the body. Eczema is not infectious, and experts are unsure what causes it.

• Impetigo- A skin illness called impetigo causes red lesions encircled by a red epidermis. The sores ooze pus and develop into pimples, which rip open and develop a crust. Impetigo is highly contagious. Antibiotics are used to treat this condition.

• Cancerous Skin Lesions- The possibility of cancer is a major issue for several skin lesions. Certain skin lesions may potentially progress to cancer, even though skin cancers can occur without antecedents. The three main kinds of skin cancer associated with lesions are melanoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and basal cell carcinoma.

There is no definite way to say what the causes of skin lesions are. Different types of skin lesions reveal different causes when inspected. Infections occurring on the skin are the most frequent causes of skin lesions. Take a wart, for example. Direct skin-to-skin exposure is how the human papillomavirus (HPV), which causes warts, is spread through contact. The herpes simplex virus, which causes lesions like herpes and cold sores, also spreads via physical contact. Skin lesions can also develop due to a systemic infection, a type of infection that affects your entire body. Chickenpox and shingles are two examples of systemic infection.

MRSA and cellulitis are two potentially fatal infections resulting from skin or cutaneous lesions. Moles and freckles are two examples of skin conditions that are hereditary. Lesions that are part of a human body from birth are known as birthmarks. Others, like allergic eczema and contact dermatitis, could result from an allergic response. Skin sensitivity brought on by several illnesses, like diabetes or poor blood flow, can also result in lesions.

As we have seen, there are various causes of skin lesions, each depending on the type of lesion. First, however, we must be aware of certain risk factors regarding skin lesions.

• If you have someone in your family who suffers from a certain skin lesion, you might develop it too.
• If you have allergies to certain foods, medicines or jewellery, contact with the same could lead to skin lesions.
• People in their teenage years and those above seventy are prone to skin lesions.
• People with certain genetic or autoimmune diseases are more likely to suffer from skin lesions.

You should keep in mind that these risk factors can turn into skin lesions, but it is not necessary that they always do. But if you have any of these risk factors and see yourself developing any kind of skin lesions, you must rush to the doctor immediately.

The problem with skin lesions is that people often undermine the severity of the situation. In many cases, it may be nothing to worry about, and the lesion might disappear on its own in a few days. However, the lesions can signify a greater underlying cause in certain cases. In such cases, you must be able to distinguish between superficial and serious skin lesions. Knowing what symptoms to look out for can be very helpful in such cases.

If you suffer the following symptoms with skin lesions, go to the doctor at once.

• Severe itching or irritation at the lesion site or around it.
• Extreme swelling around the lesion.
• If the fluid secreted from the lesion has a foul odour.
• If the lesion is physically worsening and you feel uncomfortable in and around the lesion.
• If you develop a fever.
• If you are feeling nauseous.
• If breathing becomes laboured.
• If the area around the lesion is hot to the touch.
• If you have excessive sweating.
• If you develop a rash and cough, and fever.
• If you are feeling disoriented.
• If you feel like your lips or tongue or face is swollen.
• If you feel light-headedness.

When you experience these symptoms after the formation of skin lesions, you need to see a doctor at once. It may be nothing, but you should never take a chance and being careful could be the difference between a deteriorating health condition or well-being.

A thorough medical examination and health information are the first steps in diagnosing skin lesions. During a medical examination, the colour, size, form, depth, position, and comparability with other lesions are all evaluated. Dermoscopy is a procedure that uses a magnifying glass to inspect skin blemishes. A Wood's lamp test can also help assess specific skin problems. Furthermore, several elements of the medical history, such as sunlight exposure, infections, medication lists, exposure to irritants, prior cancer, and family history, can provide important information to help with the diagnosis.

Additional diagnostic testing may be necessary for some skin lesions. These include imaging, procedures like an X-ray or CT scan, blood testing, allergy assessments, skin or wound samples for microbiological studies, and allergy tests. If all tests prove inconclusive, your doctor may perform a punch biopsy, where a lesion sample is sent to the lab to check for cancer.

Relying on the nature of the skin lesion and whether cancer is present, the treatment for the disease can differ significantly. Some benign lesions might not even require treatment; instead, they can be monitored with routine consultations with a specialist or family doctor. However, in cases where skin lesion treatment is necessary, there are a few alternatives your doctor may opt for.

• Surgery-In order to treat and relieve infected skin lesions, they are routinely punctured and drained. Moles that are suspicious-looking and have changed over time can require surgical removal. Hemangiomas, a particular kind of birthmark, are caused by abnormal blood vessels. This kind of birthmark is frequently removed with laser surgery.

• Medication-Topical medicines are frequently used as first-line therapies to reduce inflammation and safeguard the affected area. Additionally, mild symptomatic relief from skin lesion-related discomfort, itching, and burning can be achieved using topical medications. You might be given oral drugs to treat the disease's symptoms, like skin lesions, provided the skin lesions are the product of a systemic illness like chickenpox or shingles.

• Home Remedies- Certain skin lesions that itch and hurt a lot. For respite, you might wish to try some natural therapies. The itching or burning that some skin lesions cause can be soothed by oatmeal baths or creams. Specially treated powders or therapeutic balms can lessen friction and stop further skin lesions from forming if chafing produces contact dermatitis in areas where the skin presses onto itself or a clothing item. Aloe vera can also act as a soothing agent to relieve itching and irritation. Some ayurvedic cures can also be used to get some relief from skin lesions.

• Cancer Treatment- The treatment route will differ in cases where the skin lesion turns cancerous. Most doctors will try to excise the lesion and remove all traces of cancer from the body. However, doctors might recommend chemotherapy and radiation treatment in cases where cancer has spread. Palliative care will be offered to patients whose cancer has progressed beyond the point of treatment.

People should know that preventing skin lesions is not always possible. Many people are born with skin lesions; others have skin conditions or consume medication that gives rise to skin lesions. However, there are some precautions that we can take to control skin lesion formation and spread. These preventive measures include;

• Using the correct sunscreen every day.
• Wearing loose garments to prevent the formation of friction lesions.
• Not picking lesions that already exist.
• Going to a doctor in case particular lesions seem out of the ordinary.
• Get screened in case certain family members suffer from serious skin lesions.
• Not sharing items with people who have obvious skin lesions.
• Maintaining good personal hygiene.
• Not using gym equipment which has not been sanitised or wiped down after another person has used it.
• Avoiding oily and sodium-rich foods.
• Getting adequate rest.
• Increasing water intake.
• Getting skin tested and finding what products are right for your skin type.

As we have already mentioned, having health insurance has become a necessity in today's day and age. We cannot count on health, as it can take a turn at any given time. The elements we are exposed to, the food we consume, lack of exercise, and high stress all contribute to most people's ill health. Thus, having a medical insurance plan is always a good idea to be on the safe side.

• Expense - Healthcare is very expensive, and dermatological healthcare is even more expensive. Anyone can find it burdensome to pay for skincare treatment out of their pockets. However, this does not mean that you should not get the treatment you require when you require it. Having the right medical insurance plan will cover the cost of the treatment you require without worrying about payments. All you then need to worry about is getting better.

• Cashless Hospitalisation- As we have discussed before, some skin lesions can get very serious in a short time. You may need to be hospitalised quickly and without any notice. However, it may so happen that you may not have enough funds to make a deposit to get admitted. But with health insurance from Tata AIG, this does not need to be a concern. We offer cashless hospitalisation services wherein you can get admitted anytime without paying a deposit or waiting for reimbursements. Your insurance will pay for your treatment directly.

• Tax Savings- When you buy a medical insurance plan, you become eligible for tax deductions. As per section 80D of the Income Tax Act of 1961, a person can claim a deduction of ₹25000 or ₹50000 in the case of senior citizens.

• Peace of Mind- Health insurance helps people rest easy, knowing they are prepared for any eventualities. You know that you have taken a step towards leading a healthy lifestyle and can get the appropriate treatment you require anytime. You can also be at ease knowing that there will be no health emergencies you will be unprepared to face.

You can buy Tata AIG’s medical insurance plans online and offline. The procedures for both are very simple and will not take a person too much time. We will briefly discuss the steps involved in both processes, and you can choose the process which is the right fit for you.

**Online- Since most people prefer buying their insurance online, we will begin by listing the steps to buy your insurance online. **

• To begin with, you need to go to our website and choose who you wish to buy the policy for. You can buy a policy for your parents, spouse or children.
• The next step is to choose a plan. Once you have settled on a plan, click on ‘get plan’.
• You will then need to fill in the details being asked for.
• Once you have filled in your details, we will show you the best available plans for you.
• Next, you need to choose the assured sum for whoever you are buying the policy.
• At this point, we will show you what your policy premium will look like.
• You can then look at other plans at varying price points and features to choose the one that will be best for you.
• Settle on a plan once you have compared various options.
• Click on ‘buy now’.
• You will now receive a call from an official just in case you need assistance.

This completes the process, and you will get the policy statement via email or Whatsapp shortly.

Offline- If you wish to buy the plan offline, here is what you need to do.

• Locate your nearest Tata AIG office.
• Visit the office at your convenience and go to the reception desk.
• State that you wish to buy a medical insurance plan.
• A representative will approach you to discuss plans that will be the best for you.
• Once you have settled on a plan, fill in the application form.
• Attach the relevant documents.
• Submit your application at the appropriate counter.
• Pay the application fee.

This concludes the application process. If all your documents are in order, you should receive your policy in a few days.

The documents that are needed to buy a medical insurance plan from Tata AIG are;

• ID proof
• Age proof
• Residence proof
• Income proof
• Passport size photographs
• Documents to do with your medical history