Autoimmune skin diseases

The body reacts in different ways to autoimmune disorders – abnormalities that cause a person’s immune system to attack its own tissues.
Depending on the condition, an autoimmune disease can affect a variety of organs, joints, muscles and other tissues of the body. Tissue is frequently affected by autoimmune skin.There are different types of autoimmune skin disorders, including scleroderma, psoriasis, dermatomyositis, bullous and bullous pemphigoid epidermolioza.

The skin is one of the tissues where they might be located scleroderma, which is basically a condition that affects the connective tissue throughout the body. Since this autoimmune disorder may extend to the entire body, patients may experience skin not only changes but also the blood vessels, muscles and organs.
Local scleroderma – a form of scelodermiei located only in certain areas – can cause skin thickening in areas covered by the disease, while systemic scleroderma – as scleroderma that extends throughout the body – is as a These autoimmune diseases with the greatest impact on life patients.
Systemic scleroderma is divided into two further subcategories: progressive systemic sclerosis and CREST syndrome. Patients with systemic scleroderma may experience manifestations of the disease in the region esophagus, intestines, lungs, heart or kidneys.
CREST syndrome is an acronym that defines a combination of many symptoms of skin conditions: calcinosis (calcium accumulating under the skin), Raynaud’s phenomenon (redness or bluish fingers and toes), esophageal dysfunction, sclerodactyly (thickening and tightness skin around the fingers and toes) and telangiectasia (red spots on the skin caused by dilation of blood vessels).
Besides specific symptoms scleroderma, those affected by the disease can manifest joint pain, shortness of breath, wheezing, constipation or diarrhea, bloating, weight loss, heartburn or itching and burning of the eyes.
Both men and women can be diagnosed with scleroderma, but most cases occur among women – especially among women aged 30 to 40 years. Occupational exposure to silica dust and polyvinyl chloride is considered a risk factor for this autoimmune disorder. According to statistics, about 33% of scleroderma patients are diagnosed with systemic form of the condition.

Psoriasis

Psoriasis is a chronic autoimmune disease that is manifested by redness and skin irritation. There are five different types of psoriasis: guttate, vulgar, erythrodermic, inverse and pustular.
The most common is plaque psoriasis or characterized by the fact that the affected portions of skin are covered by flaky formations (dead skin) white-silver. Current research indicates that psoriasis has a predominantly genetic – in most cases, patients with psoriasis have at least one family member with the same disease or another autoimmune disease.
Psoriasis symptoms may occur and disappear several times during the life of the patient. Disease episodes may be triggered by infections, skin lesions, sun exposure, drugs, alcohol or stress. People whose immune system is already compromised, such as people with HIV or chemotherapy will have a greater risk of psoriasis to be more severe manifestations.
Psoriasis is available in many millions of people worldwide and generally symptoms often occur between 15 and 35 years. However, psoriasis can affect people of any age and sex. Another statistic reflects that approximately 30% of psoriasis patients suffer also from arthritis – a condition known as psoriatic arthritis.

Dermatomyositis

This autoimmune disorder is primarily muscular nature, but can affect the skin, classifying sometimes in autoimmune skin disease category. Polimiozitei is associated dermatomyositis, an autoimmune disease that causes weakness, pain and stiffness of muscle tissue.
In patients with these conditions can occur breathing difficulties, among other symptoms. Both diseases have almost the same symptoms. However, existing dermatomyositis is characterized by rash, which normally occur in the upper body. Other symptoms of dermatomyositis include skin thickening and tightening in the affected areas and the purple color of the skin of the eyelids.
Dermatomyositis common form in children is different from adults and involves symptoms that include fever, nausea, rash and weakness. In children, the disorder is between 5 and 15 years and in adults, most commonly between 40 and 60 years. The condition is more prevalent among women.

Epidermolysis bullosa

There are several types of epidermolysis bullosa, but one type is considered autoimmune nature: epidermolysis bullosa acquis. All forms of epidermolysis bullosa determine the presence of pustules liquid body’s response to skin lesions that normally do not have these symptoms. For example, delicate skin friction increased ambient temperature can cause pimples.
Correct diagnosis of epidermolysis bullosa form can be extremely difficult. However, a distinctive feature for epidermolysis bullosa acquis is that usually develops after age 50, while other forms of epidermolysis bullosa may develop even after birth.
The condition can be difficult to detect because it is very difficult to differentiate from another autoimmune skin disease characterized by pustules develop liquid called bullous pemphigoid.

Bullous pemphigoid

This is a chronic autoimmune disorder that causes blistering of the skin and varies in severity. In some cases, the patient may experience only mild skin redness or minor irritation, while more serious cases involving the appearance of blisters, which can break, creating ulcers.
Patients with bullous pemphigoid develop normally blisters on arms, legs or trunk, and in about one third of cases, pustules may be present in the mouth.
If you experience any of the events above, consult your doctor. It can determine the cause of symptoms and can prescribe appropriate treatment.