Nutritional Dermatoses

Nutritional dermatoses, otherwise known as nutritional skin diseases, are conditions that are caused or made worse by a lack of essential nutrients in the diet. Essential nutrients have numerous functions related to skin health, such as maintaining adequate hydration, preventing damage from ultraviolet light, and providing antioxidant protection against environmental toxins. As such, a number of skin conditions may be associated with improper nutrition. The most common nutritional dermatoses involve proteins, minerals, and vitamins. Deficiency in essential proteins can lead to poor wound healing, xerosis and scaling of the skin, and susceptibility to infection. Protein-calorie malnutrition (PCM) is a type of nutritional dermatoses that can be caused by inadequate caloric intake, excessive metabolism, or malabsorption. The skin is often involved in the symptoms PCM, with dryness, reddening, scaling, and thinning of the epidermis. Various minerals that are essential for healthy skin can also be deficient in human diets, causing dermatological problems. Iron deficiency anemia, for example, causes pale skin, dryness, and roughness. Copper deficiency can lead to hyperkeratinization, thickening of the nails, and photosensitivity. Zinc deficiency can cause inflammatory dermatitis on the face, swollen lips, and loss of hair. In addition to proteins and minerals, vitamins play an important role in skin health and are necessary for combating nutritional deficiencies that can lead to dermatoses. Vitamin A deficiency, for example, canlead to night blindness, rough scaling skin, follicular hyperkeratinization, and seborrhea. Vitamin C deficiency is linked to scurvy, a disease characterized by dry skin, anemia, and bleeding gums. B-complex vitamins, such as thiamine, pantothenic acid, and biotin, are also essential for sustaining optimal skin health. In general, a balanced diet that contains a variety of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, healthy fats, and plenty of water is key to maintaining healthy skin. Nutritional supplements can also be beneficial when addressing specific micronutrient deficiencies or skin problems. By properly nourishing the skin, both inside and out, it is possible to reduce the risk of developing nutritional dermatoses.