DefinitionThis section has been translated automatically.
Alcohol-induced skin changes are caused either by direct (alcohol-toxic) or indirect effects of chronic alcohol abuse on the skin.
Direct changes to the skin are alcohol-toxic or toxic changes due to its breakdown product aectaldehyde (reaction is catalyzed by alcohol dehydrogenase ) with effects on the epidermis, sebaceous glands, sweat glands and skin vessels.
Indirect changes are pathological secondary skin phenomena which are caused by alcohol-induced changes in other organs (see e.g. alcoholic fatty liver diseases AFDL).
ClassificationThis section has been translated automatically.
- Direct (toxic) skin changes on epidermis, sebaceous glands, sweat glands and vessels of the skin:
- Launois-Bensaude syndrome: The anabolic effect on the fatty tissue leads to atypical fat distribution either as shoulder-emphasized "cushingoid" form or as abdominal form ("beer belly").
- Xerosis (in eczema, desiccation eczema) of the integument and/or reinforcement of a pre-existing sebostasis by diuretic action of alcohol.
- Nail alterations: red lunulae; leukonychia; striation ( terry nail, Muehrcke's bands).
- Dermatoses which can be aggravated by chronic alcohol consumption:
- Indirect skin changes caused by alcohol-induced changes in other organs:
- Leukonychie (Terry nails; Muehrcke's ligaments), Koilonychie
- Feminization (as a result of the hepatic disorder of hormone metabolism, men experience a reduction of axillary, pubic and breast hair with development of a female hair type and feminization with gynecomastia and testicular atrophy).
- Porphyria cutanea tarda
- Symptomatic pellagra by malabsorption with reduced serum levels for vitamins A,B1, B6, B12, C and D.
- Acroosteopathia ulcero-multilans non-familiaris: as a consequence of alcohol-induced polyneuropathy, dissociated sensory disturbances occur in the area of pressure points to painless ulcers up to destruction of the skeleton with spontaneous fractures.
- Hyperhidrosis pedum et manuum
- Pancreatic panniculitis
- Eruptive xanthomas (alcohol-induced hypertriglyceridemia).
- Rubeosis faciei
- ethylliac facies
- Flush
- Erythema palmare et plantar symptomaticum
- Nevus araneus
- Muscular atrophy of the lower extremity (slender legs [stork legs])
- Elastosis of the facial skin
- Hemorrhages (petechiae or ecchymoses)
- paper money skin atrophy
- caput medusae
- Salivary gland hypertrophy
- Phrynoderm (vitamin A deficiency due to chronic alcohol consumption with consecutive xerosis cutis and follicular hyperkeratosis)
- Dupuytren's contracture
- Tremor with gait insecurity.
LiteratureThis section has been translated automatically.
- Fuchs J (1999) Alcoholism, malnutrition, vitamin deficiencies, and the skin. Clin Dermatol 17: 457-461
- Smith KE, Fenske NA (2000) Cutaneous manifestations of alcohol abuse. J Am Acad Dermatol 43: 1-16
- Vogl A et al (2005) Skin and alcohol. J Dtsch Dermatol Ges 3: 788-790
Incoming links (6)
Dermadrome; Ethylliac facies; Facial swelling; Granulocyte neutrophile; Phrynoderm; Terry nail;Outgoing links (31)
Acne (overview); Alcohol dehydrogenase; Alcoholic fatty liver diseases; Asteatotic dermatitis; Caput medusae; Dupuytren's contracture; Ecchymoses; Eczema (overview); Elastosis; Erythema palmare et plantar symptomaticum; ... Show allDisclaimer
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