The seven worst skin diseases

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Papa Smurf, “tree-man”, “werewolf family”, Winnie Harlow – do they have anything in common? Yes – their skin made them famous. Unfortunately, only in one case it turned out to be a ticket to a global career. Meet the seven worst skin diseases.

The seven worst skin diseases – silvery

Argyria otherwise. Its characteristic symptom is gray-blue color of the skin, most often found on the face and hands. Silvera is a rare disease associated with the deposition of silver particles in the tissues. The mentioned metal may accumulate in the body as a result of long-term occupational exposure to silver dust or colloidal silver, especially in people who mine it or take silver compounds contained in some drugs or dietary supplements for a long time.

One of the most famous patients from argyria was Paul Karason, who died seven years ago, commonly known as “Papa Smurf”. The man changed color, trying to heal himself from severe dermatitis with a drug banned in the US, containing colloidal silver combined with protein or gelatin.

The seven worst skin diseases – vitiligo

It is a chronic skin disease characterized by creamy discoloration on the skin. Its cause is the lack of melanin – the pigment produced by melanocytes. Vitiligo can be present from birth – congenital albinism (also known as albinism) or manifest later – vitiligo. Although the disease is not life threatening, it causes psychological discomfort and significantly worsens the quality of personal and professional life.

Lack of social acceptance and a sense of exclusion often lead to depression. Unfortunately, there is no single effective treatment against the disease, but good dermatological treatment can help reduce symptoms. Famous people struggling with the disease include Kasia Smutniak, and model Winnie Harlow, who took part in the Victoria’s Secret show.

The seven worst skin diseases – melanoma

It is what we fear most in the context of skin changes. Melanoma is a malignant neoplasm of the skin, mucous membranes or uvea of ​​the eye, which originates in melanocytes, or pigment-producing cells. It can start in an existing mole or as a completely new growth. Most often it takes the form of an irregular lump, spot or lump.

The main risk factors are exposure to ultraviolet radiation from sunlight or artificial sources and individual susceptibility to cancer, primarily due to increased genetic risk.

In order to reduce the risk of developing melanoma, remember about proper sun protection, including the use of high-sun creams, e.g. sunscreen sunscreen SPF 50+ Floslek.

Although melanoma accounts for only 2 percent of the experts emphasize that the incidence of skin cancer increases annually by 10%! If melanoma is detected early, i.e. it is not more than 1 mm deep (the extent of the lesion does not matter), it is almost 7% curable. With metastases to internal organs, half of the patients live only about XNUMX months. He died from melanoma, among others Bob Marley.

The XNUMX worst skin diseases – harlequin ichthyosis

Also known as Harlequin Fetus. It is a genetically determined skin disease, belonging to the group of autosomal recessive inherited congenital ichthyosis. It is characterized by diamond-shaped and polygonal scales of the epidermis covering the surface of the skin arranged in the shape of a harlequin costume – hence the name of the disease. In addition, patients have low birth weight, erythroderma, and eversion of the lips and eyelids. A newborn usually dies within a week from water loss and sepsis, as well as inadequate thermoregulation.

Interestingly, in the literature so far, little more than 100 cases of the disease have been reported, and the first description dates back to 1750.

Seven worst skin diseases – Lewandowsky-Lutz dysplasia (Epidermodysplasia verruciformis)

The disease is named after two dermatologists (Felix Lewandowsky and Wilhelm Lutz) who were the first to describe a rare skin disease with a genetic basis. In sick people, referred to as “tree people”, on the body (usually the face, hands and feet) there are growing changes that look like the bark of a tree (so-called skin horns). They may appear as erythema, discoloration, warts or growths.

So far, only a few cases of the disease have been recorded in the world – among them Dede Koswara, the hero of documentary series known as “Treeman”, who died in 2016, and Abul Bajandar, for whom 25 operations have brought only short-term improvement. The cause of Lewandowsky-Lutz dysplasia is believed to be caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV) — mainly types 5, 8 and 14.

The seven worst skin diseases – hypertrichosis

It is a rare genetic disease characterized by excessive body hair (most often in the arms, torso, legs and also the face). People who are ill are referred to as “werewolf people”. Hypertrichosis occurs in both women and men. The first description of the disease dates back to the 100th century, and to date, no more than 30 cases have been diagnosed. Most of them (around XNUMX) are members of the Mexican Aceves family, about whom the documentary “Chuy, The Wolf Man” was made.

Zobacz: Hirsutism. When is hirsutism in women a symptom of the disease?

The most severe form of the “werewolf syndrome” is the so-called Terminal hypertrichosis, which, apart from lush hair, is also manifested by gingival hypertrophy, dental disorders, a wide, flat nose and a large head. Unfortunately, so far the disease remains incurable, and patients are left with symptomatic treatment (hair removal, shaving, laser therapy).

The seven worst skin diseases – pemphigus

It comes in two basic varieties: ordinary (the heaviest) and deciduousand is an autoimmune chronic disease of the mucous membranes and / or skin. It is characterized by the presence of flaccid blisters that are prone to rupture, therefore the clinical picture is dominated by erosions and exfoliating lesions that spread peripherally. The cause of blistering lesions is the presence of autoantibodies in the patient’s serum, directed against the epidermal or epithelial cells.

The incidence of pemphigus vulgaris in Europe is 1-5 / million people per year. The disease affects both women and men, and most often appears between the ages of 30 and 60. It is rare in children and may also affect the elderly. The mainstay of treatment is the use of glucocorticoids in combination with immunosuppressants.