Skin and the Rest of the Body Flashcards
At what levels can hormones have an influence on the skin?
There can be central/systemic control of the skin or control at the level of particular regions in the body due to the differential response of certain sites to hormones (e.g. the lions mane). There can also be local control i.e. one hair follicle influencing hair follicles around it.
Which hormones are responsible for influencing hair cycles in response to changes in photoperiod.
Melatonin –> prolactin
What is the relationship between psychological stress and the skin?
Damage to the skin/skin disease can cause psychological stress due to the hormones produced. Also, psychological stress can result in the production of hormones that influence: Corneocyte thickness The lipid matrix Epidermal barrier repair and, Inflammation
Why might the skin be more liable to adverse drug reactions?
It has many enzymes that are liable to changes in the environment and there are also skin microflora that have their own metabolism. The skin also has detoxifying enzymes akin to the liver. If a normal pathway becomes defective then there may be a shift towards a more harmful pathway.
What nutrients are important to the skin?
Protein
Micronutrients e.g. ascorbic acid
Why do black cats sometimes become brown?
They need to produce a lot of melanin to remain black. In order to do this they need high levels of phenoalanine/tyrosine in their diet. High enough levels may not be present in normal cat food.
What does feeding a poor diet result in?
Defects in corneocyte protein structures and abnormal stratum corneum lipid composition resulting in decreased barrier function leading to epidermal reaction/inflammation and dermatitis.
Are food hypersensitivity reactions always allergic?
No - some are non-allergic.
What mechanisms are thought to be involved with food hypersensitivity in animals?
IgE mediated
Cell mediated
IgE & cell mediated
