ABSTRACT
Dermatologic changes occur in a variety of rheumatic diseases. Skin can be the initial site of involvement, thus providing important clues for an accurate diagnosis based on cutaneous findings. Dermatologic findings can also be an indicator of systemic involvement and prognostic outcome; however, many connective tissue disorders have a wide variety of cutaneous manifestations, with significant overlap between different diseases. These skin signs often precede systemic clinical manifestations. Careful attention to characteristic dermatologic findings in Behçet's disease, systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, and various vasculitis can provide prompt therapeutic approaches in the case of life-threatening complications of systemically involved rheumatologic diseases.
Subject(s)
Rheumatic Diseases/complications , Skin Diseases/etiology , Skin Diseases/pathology , Skin/pathology , Behcet Syndrome/complications , Behcet Syndrome/pathology , Connective Tissue Diseases/complications , Connective Tissue Diseases/pathology , HumansABSTRACT
Brown diseases comprise disorders leading to hyperpigmentation in skin and nails. Melasma is an acquired skin disorder that is characterized by brownish macules that typically occur on the face. Schamberg disease, also known as progressive pigmented purpura, is characterized by brown pigmentation with pepper spots on their edges. We summarize the epidemiology, pathogenesis, histologic features, and treatment choices for additional brown diseases, including melasma, pigmented purpuric dermatoses, postinflammatory hyperpigmentation, drug-induced hyperpigmentation, and pigmentations due to systemic or physiologic conditions.
Subject(s)
Nail Diseases/etiology , Nail Diseases/therapy , Pigmentation Disorders/etiology , Pigmentation Disorders/therapy , Addison Disease/complications , Addison Disease/diagnosis , Color , Cushing Syndrome/complications , Cushing Syndrome/diagnosis , Humans , Inflammation/complications , Keratosis, Seborrheic/epidemiology , Keratosis, Seborrheic/etiology , Keratosis, Seborrheic/therapy , Melanosis/epidemiology , Melanosis/etiology , Melanosis/therapy , Mucous Membrane , Nail Diseases/diagnosis , Pigmentation Disorders/diagnosis , Pigmentation Disorders/epidemiology , Purpura/epidemiology , Purpura/etiology , Varicose Ulcer/diagnosis , Varicose Ulcer/etiologyABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Recent studies that investigated the effect of vitamin D on skin cancer risk have exhibited inconsistent results. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to evaluate vitamin D status in patients with actinic keratosis. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 31 patients with actinic keratosis and 29 healthy controls. Serum vitamin D levels in the study group were determined by liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry. RESULTS: Serum 25(OH)D levels in patients with actinic keratosis were significantly higher than those of the healthy controls (P=0.04). Prevalence of 25(OH)D deficiency was significantly higher in the healthy controls (75.9%) compared to the patients with actinic keratosis (54.8%), but the difference was not statistically significant (P= 0.09). STUDY LIMITATIONS: The cross-sectional design of the study, data on smoking based on patient self-report, and subjects' different dietary habits, which can influence 25(OH)D levels, are the study's limitations. CONCLUSION: Serum vitamin D level can be used as a marker for ultraviolet B radiation from sun exposure; therefore, it can be used in individuals at risk of actinic keratosis. Oral intake of vitamin D through diet or supplements is proposed instead of prolonged ultraviolet exposure to maintain adequate vitamin D serum levels. Further research is needed to elucidate the role of vitamin D in skin carcinogenesis.
