Obesity and the Skin

A.R. Shipman; G.W.M. Millington

The British Journal of Dermatology. 2011;165(4):743-750.

Obesity and Other Common Skin Conditions

Obesity may result in a range of respiratory complications,^[111] which may necessitate a tracheostomy being performed. Cutaneous complications of this procedure include erosions, ulceration and infection.^[112]

Other conditions that may be associated with or aggravated by obesity include hidradenitis suppurativa, psoriasis, keratosis pilaris, striae, seborrhoeic dermatitis, scleredema, livedo reticularis, cutis verticis gyrata, lichen myxoedematosus, lipodermatosclerosis, lichen sclerosus and pilonidal sinus.^{[13,22,73,113–118]} However, other factors may be relevant. For example, Malassezia furfur infection is necessary for seborrhoeic dermatitis to occur.^[119] Finger pebbles, a papular thickening over the fingers, occurs in both diabetes and obesity.^[120]

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Cite this: Obesity and the Skin - Medscape - Oct 01, 2011.

Table 1. Skin diseases associated with diabetes mellitus
Pebble fingers
Acanthosis nigricans
Infections
Diabetic rubeosis
Diabetic bullae
Oral leucoplakia
Neuropathic ulcers
Pigmentation in haemochromatosis
Vitiligo
Porphyria cutanea tarda
Scleroderma
Granuloma annulare
Necrobiosis lipoidica diabeticorum
Atherosclerosis, arterial ulcers and gangrene
Diabetic dermopathy (pigmented pretibial patches)
Genital pruritus
Acne keloidalis nuchae
Increased skin thickness and cheiroarthropathy
Dupuytren's contracture
Oral lichen planus
Acquired perforation dermatoses
Reactions to oral hypoglycaemics and insulin

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