Endocrine diseases

Abstract

Diseases of endocrine organs and altered secretion of hormones are often associated with characteristic skin lesions. The skin's ability to react to changes in hormone levels depends on the expression of specific receptors, which fluctuates considerably depending on the skin area. Otherwise, additional factors such as blood circulation, trauma, UV exposure, and the microbiome play an important role. The skin can be the site of pathological changes that occur primarily in an endocrine organ. This is the case with autoimmune diseases, where humoral or cellular immune responses can be directed against both an endocrine organ and the skin. Examples are vitiligo in Addison's disease or autoimmune thyroiditis. Hormone-secreting tumors of other organs can also be associated with typical skin changes. In addition, the skin is able to produce various hormones such as prolactin, thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), thyrotropic hormone (TRH), corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), melatonin, melanocyte-stimulating hormones (A-, B-, γ-MSH), adrenocorticotropin (ACTH), and endogenous opioids.