Medical Safety & Global Health
Open Access

Abstract

Skin Effects of Dioxins

Qiang Ju and Christos Zouboulis

2, 3, 7, 8-Tetrachlorodibenzo -p-dioxin (TCDD) is a representative of dioxins family, which are typical compounds among persistent organic pollutants toxics produced by industrial wastes. TCDD not only has systemic arcinogenicity, teratogenicity, immunotoxicity, hepatotoxicity, endocrine disruption and waste syndrome to human being, but also have effects on physiology and pathology of human skin. Generally chloracne is the most sensitive and specific marker for a possible dioxin intoxication. Clinically chloracne is characterized by multiple acneiform comedone-like cystic eruptions involving face and other areas. Atrophy or absence of sebaceous glands as well as infundibular dilatation or cystic formation of hair follicles could be found in histopathology of chloracne. In addition other skin lesions including erythema, oedema, and decreased sebum secretion with skin xerosis, pigmentation, porphyrinopathy, hirsutism, skin thickening, palmoplantarhidrosis and palmoplantar hyperkeratotic of sweat gland are also noted after TCDD intoxication. TCDD has various effects on differentiation of human keratinocytes and sebaceous gland cells induce melanogenesis of melanocytes and complicated actions on skin inflammation and immunity. The action mechanisms of TCDD on human skin are still a myth. Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) signaling pathway and epidermal stem cell may be the links between TCDD and skin biology and pathology. Until now effective treatment of TCDD intoxication is still absent, so a better understanding of the pathogenesis of TCDD intoxication on skin physiology and pathology may help develop more specific and effective treatments.