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Intrauterine Growth Retardation (Failure to Grow Normally Before Birth)

Acquired Icthyosis.
Acquired Icthyosis.

What Is Acquired Ichthyosis?

[dropcap]A cquired ichthyosis is an uncommon, nonhereditary cutaneous disorder characterized by dry, rough skin with prominent symmetrical scaling that involves significant portions of the body.

Most microscopic studies of acquired ichthyosis exhibit hyperkeratosis (thickened skin) with a reduced or absent granular layer.1

Q: What is the granular layer of skin?

A: The granular layer is the third cell layer  (of five)  composing the epidermis, or outer surface of skin.

Acquired icthyosis has been associated with internal disease including malignancies, autoimmune/inflammatory, metabolic, endocrine, and infectious diseases, and medication use.

What Is Acquired Ichthyosis In Celiac Disease and/or Gluten Sensitivity?

Sources:
  1. Patel N, Spencer LA, English JC 3rd, Zirwas MJ. Acquired ichthyosis. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2006 Oct;55(4):647-56. [↩]

Miscarriage (Spontaneous Abortion)

Pitting edema. Right photo shows that indent remains from pressing. Courtesy wikimedia.
Pitting edema. Right photo shows that indent remains from pressing. Courtesy wikimedia.

What Is Edema?

[dropcap]E dema is an abnormal swollen condition of the skin characterized by excess extracellular fluid volume, meaning there is an increase of the fluid that normally surrounds cells. Edema may be hardly noticeable or it can become extensive.

Edema can have various appearances and can develop from various causes.

Q: What are the appearances and causes of edema?

A: Here are the appearances of edema:

  • Pitting edema. It is called pitting edema if when the skin is pressed with a finger, the indent remains. This edema results from fluid leaking out of the bloodstream into the surrounding tissues. Pitting edema can be a feature of many disorders including heart disease, kidney disease, vascular disease, cancer, and malnutrition.
  • Myxedema is a firm swelling or thickening of subcutaneous skin that does not pit, as seen in thyroid disease.

Here are causes of edema:

  • Local edema as a response to trauma or infection.
  • Lower extremity edema from poor circulation and malnutrition.
  • Edema in the lungs from right sided heart disease.
  • Abdominal edema from liver disease, intestinal disease.
  • Body wide edema from heart disease, kidney disease, thyroid disease.

What Is Edema In Celiac Disease and/or Gluten Sensitivity?

Cystic Fibrosis 

stages of melanoma
The dark brown coloring represents the progression of melanoma as it begins to grow in skin.

What Is Melanoma?

[dropcap]M elanoma is a cutaneous malignancy with rapid invasion and metastasis to other parts of the body.

Melanoma is characterized by growth from melanocytes appearing as a new mole or enlarging from an exisiting mole, changing shape, size or color.

Melanocytes are cells found in the lower epidermis layer that produce melanin, or pigment, that colors the skin.

What Is Melanoma In Celiac Disease and/or Gluten Sensitivity?

Congenital Anomalies 

Hangnail on lowest finger. Courtesy Wikipedia.org
Hangnail on lowest finger. Courtesy Wikipedia.org

What Is Hangnail?

[dropcap]H angnail is a broken strip of epidermis (piece of skin) at root or lateral (side) edge of fingernail or toenail that causes sharp pain.

A hangnail develops because the skin around the nail is unhealthy due to inadequate nutrition. Injury from trauma including biting the skin and pushing back the cuticles or exposure to excessive detergents and water that remove protective oils promote the development of hangnail.

All ages and both sexes can be affected.

Q: Can a hangnail become infected?

A: Infection, called paronychia, may develop from invasion of sore skin by any of these pathogens: bacteria, fungus, or yeast (Candida). Infected skin is red, swollen, and painful. Topical ointment is required to treat the infection.1

What Is Hangnail In Celiac Disease and/or Gluten Sensitivity?

Sources:
  1. www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001444.htm [↩]