Autoimmune Skin Diseases

Autoimmune Skin Diseases
Autoimmune diseases can be varied, and there are certain variations of this disease that are known to primarily target the skin. That said, it is also important to also mention that most, if not all autoimmune diseases are known to cause skin conditions such as rashes, skin irritations and signs of ageing. Therefore, besides being a manifestation of the autoimmune syndrome, skin problems can actually also be a form of autoimmune disease per se.

The main symptoms of autoimmune skin diseases are more or less the same that are exhibited by things such as smoking, stress and nutrient deficiencies, among others. This is because the skin simply responds to a deficiency in some or all of the nutrients it needs to be in a perfectly healthy condition. With such a lack or deficiency, the skin begins to show signs of ageing, wrinkles and other symptoms that clearly indicate that it is not perfectly healthy.

For a person found to be having a condition related to autoimmune skin diseases, a diet with increased levels of fresh fruits, vegetables and plenty of clean water is one way of prevention of autoimmune skin diseases and similar conditions. Another way is the use of diet supplements. These supplements are important for maintaining and restoring a good, well toned and healthy skin, and improving the condition of a patient. Vitamins, and more specifically vitamin A is known to protect against the development and progression of skin cancer, and skin conditions related to autoimmune skin diseases. Basically, the condition requires high standards of healthy nutrition for effective management.

Research has also shown that oral supplements like the use of glucose, minerals and several antioxidant compounds can significantly benefit the skin and improve the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines for autoimmune skin diseases patients. In management of autoimmune skin diseases, it is necessary to maintain moist skin. This would help in reducing rashes and other effects of autoimmune skin diseases.

As evident in the points noted above, it is clear that autoimmune skin diseases can mainly be managed by observing strict and specific dietary routines. Different diet supplements are good for management of the condition, and they include vitamins, minerals and several other types of diets. It is important to consult a specialist for a prescription of the right foods and food supplements that can be relied on to manage autoimmune skin diseases.

Autoimmune Diseases

Autoimmune Diseases
Auto immune diseases are those diseases which are caused due to altered immune response of the body against itself.

Normally the human body recognizes its own cells and does not pose a problem for them. But in these Auto immune diseases the body fails to recognize its own cells and unleashes an antigen antibody reaction against its own cells.

Types:

There are two major types of Auto immune diseases. One of the types is an organ specific antigen antibody reaction. The other one is non organ specific antigen antibody reaction.

Causes:

The exact cause remains to be found out. Yet there is a definite genetic factor involved. Auto immune responses can either occur spontaneously without any prior stimulus in a genetically predisposed individual. Or the Auto immune response may follow the occurrence of some acute illness, usually a virus infection, but again it does so only in genetically predisposed individuals.

Common Auto immune disease:

Organ specific

Hashimoto's thyroiditis.

Primary myxedema

Thyrotoxicosis

Pernicious anemia

Auto immune Addison's disease

Type I Diabetes Mellitus

Good pasteur's syndrome

Myasthenia gravis

Sympathetic opthalmia

Auto immune hemolytic anemia

Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura

Primary biliary cirrhosis

Chronic active hepatitis

Sjogren's syndrome

Non-organ specific

Rheumatoid arthritis

Dermato myositis

Systemic sclerosis

Systemic Lupus erythematosus (SLE)

Mechanisms of Auto immune diseases:

There is some relation of the Auto immune response with the advancing age, because it is usually found in people with advanced age. Though it has not yet been proved, but there is a suggestion or a theory put forward that with advancing age, the Ts cells or the suppressor cells lose their control over the Th cells or the T helper cells.

Sequestrated antigen:

There are certain antigens which remain isolated all through the human life, and hence do not have any chance to develop contact with the normal immunological system, and hence the body does not get a chance to develop self recognition.The best example is of human sperm. It remains inside the vas deferens and if in case it spills out into the surrounding tissue, can excite an Auto immune response.

Infection:

The infections are caused by micro organisms and they also have certain antigens in their system. These antigens can cross react with the antigen of the tissue in the humans. For example the streptococci has a similar antigen as that of the human heart, hence the when the body starts an immune response or attack on the streptococcal antigen; it also affects the muscles of the heart in the human body.

Drugs:

Certain drugs like methyldopa used in treatment, can trigger an Auto immune response.