Androgenetic alopecia is an often hereditary condition with thinning of the hair into vellus hairs which occurs in males and females according to a male pattern (Hamilton classification) or a female pattern (ludwig classification) It is psychologically devastating and treatments include topical (minoxidil), oral (finasteride) treatments sometimes so ineffective that the only solution is wearing…
One of the autoimmune systemic diseases which have extensive skin manifestations is mixed connective tissue disease or MCTD. This disorder is a combination of other autoimmune diseases such as lupus erythematosus, systemic sclerosis and polymyositis. The cause of this disorder is not completely known but is stipulated to be an effect of one’s immune system…
Skin aging (ageing) concerns the skin, in the epidermis where it is responsible for texture changes. However the most visible effect of aging is loss of volume in the dermis. In the dermis intact collagen fibers (as well as hyaluronic acid) play an important structural role in its volume. The visible changes in aging are…
Fumaric acid esters (FAE) (oral intake) are used in come countries (Germany…) in the treatment of psoriasis. It is an effective drug however its limitations lie in the fact that it can cause gastrointestinal symptoms as well as flushing In this retrospective study from Ireland done in 249 patients, demographic data, length of treatment, reasons…
Vitiligo is suggested in a study by the same authors (HERE) to be associated with metabolic syndrome. High blood sugar and hypertension are risk factors and this study suggests that atherosclerosis could also be associated with vitiligo. Moreover, insulin resistance and increased homocysteine levels have already been described. Atherogenesis in its initial stages involves oxidative…
Vitiligo affects 1% of the world population and is a psychologically devastating disease especially when visible areas are affected, such as the face. Psoriasis is associated with the so-called named “metabolic syndrome” (MS): abdominal (central) obesity, elevated blood pressure, elevated fasting plasma glucose, high serum triglycerides, and low high-density cholesterol (HDL) levels) Metabolic syndrome is…
Characteristics of the skin in the direct predecessor of mankind (homo (neandertalis…)): functional hairlessness increased density of eccrine glands persistence of hair follicular units 1 million years ago, the predecessors of mankind, the skin (in addition to becoming hairless became) darkly pigmented and MC1R became invariant It was been shown that in that skin; High…
The evolution of vitiligo is difficult to predict and follicular regimentation is a sign of positive evolution ov vitiligo often, when undergoing treatment. Conversely there is apparently a sign of unfavorable of evolution: confetti-like marks These are small irregular (confetti shaped) macules on the periphery of preexisting vitiligo lesions in patients with extensive vitiligo vulgaris…
Premature Hair Greying (PMG) is a source of low self esteem. In this study from South Korea the authors sought to investigate risk factors for early white hair. In this cross-sectional study, questionnaires were given to men under the age of 30 This involved a total of 6390 males, after a pilot-study enrolling 1069 subjects…
In mammals, the melanocyte and melanin are responsible hair color and protection of the skin from ultraviolet light (UV). In their development, melanocytes initally derived from neural crest cells, migrate to the basal layer of the epidermis and hair follicles. The migration and proliferation of these cells and the synthesis of melanin is a regulated…
