Dermatology

Over the last ten years there has been a dramatic surge in scientific research in dermatology and this specialty has benefited from advances in molecular biology, cell biology, immunology and pharmacology. The realization that the skin functions as an immunological organ and that mediators released from cells within the epidermis and dermis can act in an endocrine, autocrine and paracrine manner have had a major impact on our understanding of the pathogenesis ofnumerous inflammatory dermatoses, skin tumours and the wound repair processes. The use of immunohistochemical and immunoblotting techniques in the prenatal diagnosis of and the classification and diagnosis of many blistering disorders have become familiar. However, the genetic basis of many common skin diseases such as atopic dermatitis and psoriasis still remains unknown; a goal that may be realized by the accurate mapping of the human genome. In this review of advances in dermatology some of these developments are brought out in the description of the following disease states, atopic dermatitis, acne and Raynaud's phenomenon and in the mode of action of two pharmacological agents, cyclosporin and essential fatty acids.