« Back to Cutaneous Manifestations of Internal Diseases

Cutaneous Signs of Nutritional Disturbances

»	When do skin abnormalities occur in association with nutritional disturbances?
»	Do nutritional disturbances involve the skin exclusively?
»	Which skin changes are seen with protein and calorie deprivation in adults?
»	What is marasmus?
»	What is kwashiorkor?
»	Describe the skin findings in kwashiorkor.
»	How can I remember the differences in skin findings associated with kwashiorkor and marasmus?
»	Do skin abnormalities occur with fat deficiency?
»	Are any skin findings associated with fat excess?
»	Which water-soluble vitamin abnormalities have skin findings?
»	What is beriberi?
»	Name the four “Ds” of pellagra.
»	Describe the dermatitis in pellagra.
»	Does scurvy still exist?
»	Do deficiencies of the fat-soluble vitamins occur?
»	What abnormalities occur with vitamin A deficiency?
»	Is vitamin A excess toxic?
»	What is acrodermatitis enteropathica?
»	Has the gene responsible for inherited acrodermatitis enteropathica been identified?
»	How is acrodermatitis enteropathica diagnosed and treated?
»	Can zinc deficiency be acquired?
»	What is carotenoderma?
»	Has supplementation with micronutrients or homeopathic remedies been associated with any cutaneous disorders?

When do skin abnormalities occur in association with nutritional disturbances?

Skin manifestations occur when structural or enzymatic processes are affected by a deficiency or excess of a particular nutrient. This can be seen with dietary insufficiency or excess, malabsorption, drug interference, catabolic states, and metabolic, renal, hepatic, and inherited disorders. Nutrients include protein, carbohydrate, fat, vitamins, minerals, and trace elements.

Heath ML, Sidbury R: Cutaneous manifestations of nutritional deficiency, Curr Opin Pediatr 18:417–422, 2006.