Skin manifestations associated with systemic diseases – Part II

Abstract

The skin, by reflecting internal processes, externalizes what happens inside the body in many diseases. Thus, the skin, as an organ, extrapolates its functions of protection, barrier and signals the existence of systemic diseases, expanding the importance of the dermatologist beyond the skin surface. Thus, the dermatologist investigates diagnostic hypotheses for conditions related to all systems and refers patients to the appropriate specialty. Combined with examination by a trained eye, the skin, due to its easy access, is still the ideal place for performing biopsies, which often clarify the diagnosis. This manuscript is the second part of the article on cutaneous manifestations of systemic diseases. In the first part, the cutaneous manifestations of the main rheumatologic and granulomatous diseases were described, and vascular manifestations were also addressed. In the present article, it will be discussed how metabolic, cardiovascular, kidney, and gastrointestinal diseases can manifest themselves in the integumentary system. Malignant diseases and their cutaneous implications, will also be discussed. Pruritus and its clinical cutaneous correspondence will be discussed. Finally, an update on cutaneous signs of SARS-CoV2 coronavirus infection will be presented.

Gender, Socioeconomic, and Health Characteristics Associated to Dermatological Visits in Italy: Secondary Analysis of a National Cross-Sectional Survey

“…Looking at the level of self-perceived health status, it results in how there is an association of worsening of this perception with less propensity of consulting a dermatologist, showing statistical significance all among different classes except for the “very low one.” Some studies have shown statistically significant differences as well among skin care disparities based on gender type [5, 6, 10] but both in bivariate analyses and in the multilevel regression model we could not assess this difference at a statistically significant level. We decided to analyze if the presence of comorbidities could be correlated since they may be associated with an increased risk of skin diseases that may require dedicated dermatological consultations [11–13]. The only variable that was present in the database considering comorbidities was the general presence or absence of at least three chronic diseases.…”

A Sustainable Solution to Skin Diseases: Ecofriendly Transdermal Patches

“…Skin is not just an external organ, but it can also provide vital information about the overall health of an individual [ 46 ]. Skin diseases can be caused by a variety of internal factors such as hormonal imbalances, nutritional deficiencies, and underlying medical conditions [ 47 ]. For example, certain skin conditions such as acne, eczema, and psoriasis can be caused by, for instance, autoimmune disorders and inflammatory conditions [ 47 ].…”

“…Skin diseases can be caused by a variety of internal factors such as hormonal imbalances, nutritional deficiencies, and underlying medical conditions [ 47 ]. For example, certain skin conditions such as acne, eczema, and psoriasis can be caused by, for instance, autoimmune disorders and inflammatory conditions [ 47 ]. Similarly, skin rashes and discoloration can be a symptom of other diseases such as diabetes and liver disease [ 48 ].…”

A view on the skin–bone axis: unraveling similarities and potential of crosstalk

“…The phrase “skin as a mirror of internal medicine,” has long been known ( 1 ). In other words, the skin is an indicator of the body’s response to various diseases and can serve as an offshoot or surrogate biomarker for diagnosis, indicating symptoms of visceral diseases such as metabolic, gastrointestinal, and neoplastic diseases ( 2 ). In some cases such as palmoplantar pustulosis, psoriasis, and reactive arthritis (Reiter’s syndrome); skin lesions and osteoarthritis may occur together, indicating a close association between skin diseases and bone and joint pathologies via an inflammatory mechanism.…”