individual may develop red, scaly patches or a red, ring- shaped rash, especially when the skin is exposed to sun or other ultraviolet light. Lupus may also cause skin problems in areas such as the mouth, scalp, lower legs, and fingers. Purplish spots can also appear on the lower legs. These happen when the blood vessels in the skin become inflamed and damaged. They may show up as small spots or larger knots. People with psoriatic arthritis may have symptoms of itchy, painful red patches or a silvery white buildup of dead skin cells that are most commonly found on the knees, elbows, and scalp, although a rash can occur anywhere on the body (Mayo Clinic, 2023). Autoimmune disorders and nails Fingernails can also tell a lot about health and give insight into certain autoimmune disorders. Nail abnormalities can be a sign of underlying disease (Tidy, 2022). Cracking, pitting, white spots, and lifting from the nail bed can occur in patients with psoriatic arthritis. People with lupus can develop lines or spots of red or purple bumps, known as cutaneous vasculitis, in the folds of the fingernails or on the fingertips. These lesions can cause severe damage to skin tissue and can lead to gangrene. Pitted nails, which exhibit pinpoint depressions in the nails, are usually associated with psoriasis, pemphigus, and alopecia areata. Psoriasis can also affect the nails in the form of nail psoriasis. The autoimmune activity in psoriasis causes the rapid overgrowth of skin cells (Tidy, 2022). These cells build up Autoimmune disorders and hair Hair loss is less commonly associated with autoimmune disorders (Headcovers United, 2019). The disorders that may have hair-loss symptoms include alopecia, lupus, Hashimoto’s disease, Graves’ disease, and sometimes Crohn’s disease and psoriasis. Hair loss results from white blood cells attacking the healthy cells in the hair follicles. This damages the follicles and their ability to grow strands of hair. Alopecia areata is the most well-known autoimmune disorder associated with hair loss, affecting an estimated 6.6 million people in the U.S. and 147 million people worldwide (Headcovers United, 2019). The body's immune system signals white blood cells to attack healthy hair follicle cells. This causes the hair follicles to shrink, resulting in varying degrees of visible hair loss on the scalp and sometimes on the face and body. In most cases, hair falls out in small patches around the size of a quarter. As mentioned before, the disorder can lead to complete loss of hair on the scalp (alopecia totalis) or in severe cases, the entire body (alopecia universalis). Information (NCBI), genetic predisposition accounts for 30% of autoimmune disorders (Jörg et al., 2016). The remaining 70% are due to environmental factors that include toxic chemicals, dietary components, and gut dysbiosis and infections (Jörg et al., 2016). Environmental factors, including climate, stress, occupation, and smoking, have been shown to promote autoimmune diseases. A diet high in salt, fat, protein, and sugar has also been shown to promote autoimmune disease and inflammation (Jörg et al., 2016).
Patients with Sjogren’s syndrome may experience xerosis, or dry, rough skin (Mayo Clinic, 2023). They may also develop small “blood spots” or purpura on the lower legs due to vasculitis, or inflammation of the blood vessels. Vasculitic skin lesions may appear as lumps, blisters, or ulcers or red, ring-shaped lesions with a pale area in the middle, which are known as annular erythema. People with pernicious anemia commonly experience yellow skin or jaundice (Mayo Clinic, 2023). This is from the lack of B12 being absorbed into the body. Dermatomyositis can cause a distinct skin rash, discoloration, and swelling. These are just a few symptoms that may affect the skin in someone with autoimmune disorders. in the skin, contributing to the condition’s characteristic lesions, which may appear like nail fungus. People with nail psoriasis develop a pattern of yellowing nails with pits that continue to deepen. Psoriasis is more likely than a fungus to make the nails detach from their beds, leading to nail loss. The nail may fall off entirely or break off in pieces. Before a nail falls off, a gap usually develops between the nail and the fingertip. Nail psoriasis sometimes causes too much keratin to grow under the nail. This overgrowth is called subungual hyperkeratosis. People with hyperkeratosis may notice a white, chalky substance under the nail. When this occurs in the toenails, the pressure of shoes pushing down on the nails might cause pain. In lupus, hair loss occurs when antibodies created by the body infiltrate the hair follicles, causing the body to reject the hair shaft and fall out (Mayo Clinic, 2023). Hair may grow back during remission periods. If scarring occurs in affected follicles, hair loss is usually permanent. People with Hashimoto’s may experience thinning hair or large amounts of hair falling out in the shower or sink. Changes in hair texture can make it dry, coarse, or easily tangled. This is all due to the overactive thyroid associated with Hashimoto’s disease. Graves’ disease can affect the production of new hair on the scalp and sometimes elsewhere on the body (Mayo Clinic, 2023). The imbalance of hormones forces hair follicles to prematurely enter the resting or telogen phase of the hair cycle. This period lasts longer than usual, effectively shutting down hair production. Eventually, hair loss is visible because no new hairs have grown to replace those which naturally shed over time. Environmental toxins and foreign compounds can create an automatic reaction against the self. Toxins affect health, which in turn can lead to autoimmune disorders. Pollution is one of the top of these environmental factors. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), about 2.5 billion pounds of toxic chemicals are released annually by large industries, including 6 million pounds of mercury that are poured into the air (Oliver & Zanolli, 2019).
Environmental factors related to autoimmune disorders According to the National Center for Biotechnology
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