Neurological Disorders That Affect The Skin

Neurological disturbances are defined as severe diseases resulting from genetic or inheritance factors and prime acquired reasons due to force majeure, incidents, or trauma-concerned circumstances. The severity of such disorders is connected with the complicated nerve ties and the uninvestigated brain functionalities.

Scientists have proven that the initial conjunction between the nerve system and the skin cells is established at the level of embryo development.

The dermatological problems accompany four types of psychological abnormalities: 

• depression,
• jitteriness,
• insanity, and
• delusional parasitosis.

All psychodermatological illnesses need the primary correction to prevent more difficult health problems, leading to a more atrabiliary state of the nerve system. Thus, one of the hazardous ailments related to neurological disorders is tuberous sclerosis. Such a disease is caused by a wide range of behavioral, psychological, mental, neuropsychological, and psychosocial problems, which most doctors neglect. However, the clinical trials emphasize that approximately 85% of the examined cases also have epilepsy which quickly affects the weak neurological system. Due to its genetic nature, the tuberous sclerosis complex is well-known in certain medical circles as hardly probable abnormality subject to treatment procedures.

So, the patient could only eliminate some symptoms of this dangerous disease to eradicate this insidious health problem.

Neurology and the skin: triggers, effects, and healing methods

Neurology requires permanent attention and scheduled medical examinations to avoid the various health problems affecting all human organs (brain, skin, lungs, etc.). The most visible and complex nervous effects on the skin or patients have obsessional states that lead to mini or macro self-injured traumas.

Delusional parasitosis

The main signs discover a controversial belief in being invaded or infected with parasites. To be correct, sufferers have fake perceptions like stinging, crawling, or being bitten. They can not distinguish their cues from real crawling perceptions. Therefore, these neurological disorders qualify as the primary psychiatric diseases.

Dysmorphic disorder

Patients have obsessional complaints about their minor defects in appearance. They usually focus on the nose, lips, hair, chest, or genitals. Such patients draw attention to themselves with increased concern about the sensations of their appearance. They are often socially isolated, as all of their attention is on the face (primarily the nose and lips). In addition to particular symptoms, patients often focus on this obsession. Moreover, they are absorbed in skincare, sitting for a long time in front of a mirror and meticulously assessing their appearance.

Artifactual dermatitis

The nature of the disease refers to self-harm actions against the skin, often using some accidental items. The self-damage reactions have no explanation, and patients refuse their role in the skin injuries or rash occurrence.

Neurotic excoriation

They are usually observed in middle-aged women in the form of a repeated uncontrollable desire to pinch, rub, scratch the skin. Typically, the scalp, face, upper back, outer forearms, lower legs, and hips are affected, but these manifestations can be anywhere. The size of the lesion can vary from a few millimeters to several centimeters, and its occurrence can be diverse: from small superficial erosions to deep rounded or linear ulcerations with a raised edge and finally to hypo- and hyperpigmented scars.

Excoriated acne

The neurological diseases frequently jeopardize young women and are characterized by permanent damage to areas of the skin with acne eruptions, which patients squeeze out or tear off. Acne of very moderate severity is accompanied by solid excoriation. The lesions become more profound, which subsequently ends in scarring of the skin.

Trichotillomania

The pathology is expressed in hair pulling on the scalp, eyebrows, eyelashes, and pubic hair. There is an opinion that trichotillomania should be attributed to obsessive compulsions. According to the diagnostic criteria, the patient feels an involuntary desire to touch, pull, rub their hair, bringing them satisfaction and relief.

Munchausen syndrome

The history of the disease presented by the patients resembles the nature of far-fetched, excessive drama, and implausibility. Typically, these patients are admitted to the clinic with acute pain, bleeding, loss of consciousness, and other symptoms. Such patients even undergo repeated abdominal surgeries. Complaints can be abdominal, hemorrhagic, neurological, and dermatological. In the case of the cutaneous variant, the patients cause and artificially support skin diseases. This pathology is referred to as behavioral and hypochondriacal disorders.

Nodular prurigo

These neurological diseases are referred to as psychodermatological due to biopsy itching, which is practically regarded as self-destruction.

Lichen simplex chronicus

The disease, as a rule, occurs in adults and designates hyperpigmented lichenified rough patches caused by scratching and rubbing and accompanied by itching. Patches are localized on the back of the neck, extensor surfaces of the forearms, ankle joints, wrists, and genitals. The precursors are xerosis and atopy. The round-shaped patches are usually detected in women’s back of the neck and men’s genital areas.

The list of the possible neurological diseases affecting the skin or other organ’s functions is not exhausted. That’s why each particular case is unique and needs special tests and diagnostic procedures adequately executed by professional neurologists, dermatologists, psychologists, and so on. So, the treatment plan will be based on the comprehensive examination deliverables.

However, the core factor for all nervous disorders is stress. In this case, physical exercises, mental therapy, and relaxation activities would be effective instruments to reach the comparative normal living conditions.

Otherwise, the clinical interventions would have poor benefits in the case of the inherited brain-affected disorders. They could not entirely be treated, but the qualified remedy procedures dedicated to removing the core signs and symptoms of the accompanying diseases could enhance the healing probability.

Tuberous sclerosis complex: inheritance, signs, and treatment

The comprehensive clinical picture is shocking. The so-called tuberous sclerosis complex is a multisystem genetic disease associated with a wide range of pathological manifestations which affect the brain, skin, kidneys, eyes, and lungs. Nearly 80% of the respective patients have the accompanying health problems and injured organs listed above due to these genetic illness effects. Moreover, 90% of the interviewed sufferers with the confirmed tuberous sclerosis complex have additional neuropsychological abnormalities.

Even though modern neurology has made significant progress in diagnosing and treating many physical manifestations of this disease, neuropsychiatric disorders remain poorly understood. Skin injuries are a single indicator to detect the severity.

Skin symptoms include:

• an initially pale hypopigmented macula that develops during infancy or early childhood;
• angiofibroma of the face set in late childhood;
• congenital pebbled spots meaning enlarged lesions, corresponding to an orange peel, usually on the back;
• subcutaneous nodules;
• areas colored like cafe au lait;
• subungual fibroids that could develop at any time during childhood or early adulthood.

To receive a correct diagnosis, the patient should undergo special tests investigating the genetic prosperities. In particular, both of the following criteria are required:

• identification of pathogenic mutation of either the TSC1 gene or the TSC2 gene in DNA from healthy tissue; and
• 2 extensive features or 1 prominent segment with ≥ 2 minor ones.

The treatment approach should be based on the medical procedures dedicated to comprehensive or local therapy. This approach has a straightforward explanation. TSC is not entirely subject to the whole healing; however, it could eliminate its symptoms. For instance, skin problems are commonly remedied by dermabrasion tools or using a laser technique.