La neurofibromatose
-Smoking is a major problem and particularly in young people. In the past years, increased smoking has been observed in young women.
-It would be responsible for at least a quarter of all deaths, because of cardiovascular diseases and lung cancer.
- On the skin, smoking is responsible for the following changes:
- Premature Aging: the skin is very wrinkled, is thickened and has a yellowish aspect. Sun exposure would have an added negative effect (solar elastosis).
- Yellow discoloration of the tip of the fingers and nails.
- Poor wound healing: this can be explained by reduced synthesis of collagen and reduced blood supply of nutrients and oxygen.
Some skin diseases are associated with smoking:
- Strong associations:
- Palmoplantar pustulosis and palmoplantar psoriasis
- Hidradentitis Suppurativa (Verneuil’s Disease)
- Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC) of the lips and of the oral mucosa.
- Genital Warts (Condyloma Accuminata) and Carcinoma of the Cervix.
- Possible associations:
- Atopic Dermatitis (including for example through passive smoking from the parents)
- Malignant Melanoma: smokers have a worse prognosis
- Lupus Erythematosus: smokers respond less well to treatment with antimalarials.
- Moreover, topical medication containing an alcohol base should never be prescribed to smokers as these are highly inflammable.
Bibliography: Thieme Clinical Companions. Dermatology, Sterry W. et al. Translation into English of the 5th Edition in German (2006).
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