The Endocannabinoid System and Its Role in Eczematous Dermatoses.

The skin serves as the foremost barrier between the internal body and the external world, providing crucial protection against pathogens and chemical, mechanical, and ultraviolet damages. The skin is a central player in the intricate network of immune, neurologic, and endocrine systems. The endocannabinoid system (ECS) includes an extensive network of bioactive lipid mediators and their receptors, functions to modulate appetite, pain, mood, and memory, and has recently been implicated in skin homeostasis. Disruption of ECS homeostasis is implicated in the pathogenesis of several prevalent skin conditions. In this review, we highlight the role of endocannabinoids in maintaining skin health and homeostasis and discuss evidence on the role of ECS in several eczematous dermatoses including atopic dermatitis, asteatotic eczema, irritant contact dermatitis, allergic contact dermatitis, and chronic pruritus. The compilation of evidence may spark directions for future investigations on how the ECS may be a therapeutic target for dermatologic conditions.

[Eczematous skin diseases]. / Ekzemás megbetegedések.

The skin, as one of the most important barriers of the human body, protects the inner homeostasis from the harmful environmental influences as well as physical, chemical and biological factors. When the impact of these factors exceeds the tolerance and reproducing capacity of the skin, pathological alterations will develop. If follows from this that dermatology can surely be considered to be a part of environmental medicine. Eczematous diseases are mostly pathological pictures of varied mechanisms developing as a result of environmental influences (irritants, contact allergens, microbes). Since their clinical appearance is similar, it is a serious professional challenge to diagnose them. In this article we present the clinical features, provoking factors of these skin diseases as well as therapeutical possibilities.

Late onset systemic lupus erythematosus diagnosed in an elderly man with unusual skin eruptions and sudden death.

A rare case of late onset SLE in an elderly man presented with generalized toxicoderma-like eruptions. The rash first appeared at age 64 years and was characterized by dark or purplish erythematous eruptions disseminated over the body surface. Histological examination revealed marked liquefaction degeneration and leukocytoclastic vasculitis. Direct immunofluorescence study and serological examination results were suggestive of SLE; however, the patient had no episodes of photosensitivity, malar erythema, or arthralgia. He was diagnosed as having SLE 11 months after his first visit and died suddenly 16 months after onset. Elderly men with SLE can present with unusual clinical manifestations; careful examination of these patients is required to reach a correct diagnosis.