It is believed that a person's appearance and skin condition can tell about a person's health and even about his character. Many doctors already see "their patients" with an experienced eye. Also, dermatological problems can be used to judge which systems in the body are not working properly. It is important for dermatologists to tell their patients which specialists they need to contact, because in every dermatological problem lies a pathological process in the internal organs.
So, with some diseases of the connective tissue, rashes appear on the skin. How not to miss a serious illness? What diseases does the skin suffer from?
These are diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus, systemic and localized scleroderma, systemic sclerosis and dermatomyositis. In women, these diseases are more common than in men.
Systemic lupus erythematosus
This is a multi-organ autoimmune disease, which is based on the excessive production of antibodies and immune cells against cells of one's own body, together with type 1 interferon. These proteins activate T- and B-lymphocytes, which damage the connective tissue.
Research has shown that it is the presence of interferon 1 that plays a decisive role in the occurrence of this autoimmune reaction in SLE. Various immunomodulators, vaccination, hyperinsolation, and exposure to drugs can also provoke the disease. Not the last place is occupied by a genetic predisposition.
Skin manifestations of SLE
In the acute stage, polymorphism of rashes is observed. These are vasculitis, acrocyanosis on the hands, thenar and hypothenar. Often there is transverse striation and fragility of the nails, as well as diffuse alopecia. The mucous membrane of the mouth, less often the genital organs, is hyperemic, bubble elements appear on it. They are quickly eroded and covered with a bloody-purulent coating.
With discoid lupus erythematosus, erythematous spots appear on the skin of the face, on the hands, in the décolleté area. They are pink-red in color and 0.3 to 6 cm in diameter, and may become infiltrated, subject to cicatricial atrophy. There are patients with a positive phenomenon of Besnier – Meshchersky, when there are lesions on the skin of the scalp in the form of rounded erythematous foci with compacted erythema along the edges, and in the center - pronounced cicatricial atrophy with alopecia.
There are several variants of discoid lupus erythematosus - with severe hypo- or hyperpigmentation of lesions – dyschromic lupus; lupus, in which hyperkeratosis is formed - hyperkeratotic, and with the growth of warty elements - verrucous.
Diagnostic criteria for SLE on the skin
- rash on the cheekbones, which looks like fixed erythema with a tendency to spread;
- discoid, erythematous lesions in the form of raised plaques with tight-fitting skin scales and follicular plugs;
- photosensitization - the appearance of erythromatous spots on the skin as a result of high sensitivity to sunlight;
- appearance of erosions or ulcers in the nasopharynx or oral cavity.
Often, lupus has to be differentiated from eczema in seborrhea, rashes in psoriasis, & nbsp; rosacea, lupus erythematosus, eosinophilic granuloma of the skin of the face.
2. Systemic scleroderma, systemic sclerosis
Scleroderma is a rare multi-organ disease with wide variability in skin and internal organ involvement. There is a burdened family history and severe clinical symptoms.
There are facts that prove the relationship between the presence of cytomegalovirus infection and the development of scleroderma.
Manifestations of scleroderma on the skin
Symmetrical lesion of the skin of the face, limbs, torso. The process ends with sclerosis of the skin. Raynaud's sign is detected in 95-100% of patients.
In limited scleroderma, the patient's face has the appearance of a mask, and the area around the mouth is described as a "pouch" phenomenon.
Localized scleroderma is a chronic disease, the pathogenesis of which is the appearance of sclerotic inflammatory foci on the skin. At the same time, the internal organs are without pathological changes.
There are 2 forms of scleroderma - plaque and linear. Rare varieties of scleroderma include Zumbusch lichen sclerosus (white spot disease), Parry-Romberg progressive hemiatrophy, Pasini-Pierini atrophoderma.
Skin changes occur in 3 stages - erythema and edema, sclerosis and skin atrophy. The process begins with the appearance of pink-lilac or hyperpigmented spots on the skin. The shape of these spots is different - from strip-like to rounded. In the stage of sclerosis, the lesions thicken, the skin thickens and acquires an ivory color.
- Dermatomyositis
Dermatomyositis (Wagner's disease) is a rare idiopathic myopathy. This disease is one of the most severe and most unexplored connective tissue diseases. The lesion occurs in the skin and in the muscles. The likely causative agent of the disease is picornavirus.
Changes in the skin appear earlier than the process in the muscles. Edematous erythema appears with a lilac tint, which is localized in open areas of the body. More often, eruptive elements are localized on the skin around the eyes, face, with the greatest severity on the back of the hands, neck, upper back and chest, in the area of the knee and elbow joints. In this case, the face becomes amimic. Trophic disorders develop. This is manifested in increased hair loss, brittle nails and dry skin. There is also pain in the nail bed when pressed.
Juvenile dermatomyositis
Girls get sick more often during puberty. The process begins acutely with a high body temperature and is accompanied by damage to the skin and muscles. With this pathology, exudative and vascular components are expressed.
The process is more often localized on the cheeks and looks like a heliotropic butterfly. Large lesions appear on the trunk and limbs.
In order to diagnose and confirm the diagnosis, myoglobin is detected in the blood serum using a passive hemagglutination reaction. The content of myoglobin in the blood is more than 128 mg / ml confirms the diagnosis of "dermatomyositis".
Unfortunately, today there are many diseases that humanity struggles with daily. But this struggle would be more effective if people, having noticed some disturbances in the functioning of the body, firstly, asked for help in time, and secondly, having come to an appointment with a specialist, they would immediately receive a preliminary diagnosis and learn the tactics of action further .
The goodwill, attention and desire to help from the doctor is an excellent medicine that can heal not only the soul, but also the body.
Share:
Add a comment