Article information
Abstract
Many scientists have reported on the current trend toward global warming and decreased precipitation. The magnitude and cause of these changes and their impact on human activity are matters of debate. Higher temperatures could increase the prevalence of some skin diseases. More people would suffer from sensitive skin and dry skin due to the reduction of relative humidity. An impaired skin barrier function would increase the severity and prevalence of atopic dermatitis. The greater percentage of UV-B radiation reaching the earth's surface, combined with the increased popularity of sunbathing, may lead to greater rates of skin cancer and photoaging if effective sunscreens are not used. Furthermore, the habitats of various vectors of infectious disease are changing. Such changes, should they occur, will be a challenge for dermatologists who will face the important task of prevention and early diagnosis and treatment of these diseases.
Keywords:
Climatic change
Low-humidity dermatosis
Skin cancer
Global warming
Vector-borne diseases
Resumen
Numerosos científicos informan de una tendencia actual al calentamiento global y a la disminución de las precipitaciones. Su cuantía, sus causas y la influencia de la actividad humana son motivo de controversia. Un aumento de la temperatura podría incrementar la prevalencia de algunas patologías cutáneas; más personas padecerían piel sensible y una mayor xerosis cutánea por disminución de la humedad relativa. Las alteraciones de la función de la barrera cutánea aumentarían la gravedad y prevalencia de la dermatitis atópica. La mayor proporción de radiación UVB que alcanza la superficie terrestre, unida a hábitos poblacionales de aumento de fotoexposición, junto con una fotoprotección incorrecta, hacen esperables mayores tasas de cáncer cutáneo y de fotoenvejecimiento. Además, los hábitats de diversos vectores de patologías infecciosas están cambiando. Afrontar estos problemas, en caso de que se produjesen, será un reto para el dermatólogo, que tendrá una importante labor de prevención, diagnóstico y tratamiento precoz de estas patologías.
Palabras clave:
Cambio climático
Dermatosis de baja humedad
Cáncer cutáneo
Calentamiento global
Enfermedades trasmitidas por vectores
Full text is only aviable in PDF
References
[1.]
R.K. Pachauri, A. Reisinger.
Cambio climático 2007: Informe de síntesis. Contribución de los Grupos de trabajo I, II y III al Cuarto Informe de evaluación del Grupo Intergubernamental de Expertos sobre el Cambio Climático, pp. 43-97
[2.]
C. Schar, P.L. Vidale, D. Luthi, C. Frei, C. Haberli, M.A. Liniger, et al.
The role of increasing temperature variability in European summer heatwaves.
Nature, 427 (2004), pp. 332-336
[3.]
P.M. Vitousek.
Beyond global warming: ecology and global change.
Ecology, 75 (1994), pp. 1861-1876
[4.]
R.S. Lindzen.
Can increasing carbon dioxide cause climate change?.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 94 (1997), pp. 8335-8342
[5.]
C.D. Keeling, T.P. Whorf.
The 1,800-year oceanic tidal cycle: a possible cause of rapid climate change.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 97 (2000), pp. 3814-3819
[6.]
D.R. Easterling, G.A. Meehl, C. Parmesan, S.A. Changnon, T.R. Karl, L.O. Mearns.
Climate extremes: observations, modeling, and impacts.
Science, 289 (2000), pp. 2068-2074
[7.]
M. Collins.
Climate predictability on interannual to decadal time scales: the initial value problem.
Climate Dynamics, 19 (2002), pp. 671-692
[8.]
D.J. Rogers, S.E. Randolph.
Climate change and vector-borne diseases.
Adv Parasitol., 62 (2006), pp. 345-381
[9.]
P. Chylek, J. Box, G. Lesins.
Global warming and the Greenland Ice sheet.
Climatic Change., 63 (2004), pp. 201-221
[10.]
S. Changnon.
Impacts of 1997-98 El Niño–generated weather in the united states.
Bull Am Meteor Soc., 80 (1999), pp. 1819-1828
[11.]
W.T. Tsai.
Environmental and health risk analysis of nitrogen trifluoride (NF3), a toxic and potent greenhouse gas.
J Hazard Mater., 159 (2008), pp. 257-263
[12.]
M.H. Dore.
Climate change and changes in global precipitation patterns: what do we know?.
Environ Int., 31 (2005), pp. 1167-1181
[13.]
R.S. Kovats, M.J. Bouma, S. Hajat, E. Worrall, A. Haines.
El Niño and health.
Lancet, 362 (2003), pp. 1481-1489
[14.]
R. López-Vélez, R. Molina Moreno.
Cambio climático en España y riesgo de enfermedades infecciosas y parasitarias transmitidas por artrópodos y roedores.
Rev Esp Salud Publica., 79 (2005), pp. 177-190
[15.]
P.R. Epstein.
Climate change and human health.
N Engl J Med., 353 (2005), pp. 1433-1436
[16.]
K.L. Gage, T.R. Burkot, R.J. Eisen, E.B. Hayes.
Climate and vectorborne diseases.
Am J Prev Med., 35 (2008), pp. 436-450
[17.]
R.W. Sutherst.
Global change and human vulnerability to vectorborne diseases.
Clin Microbiol Rev., 17 (2004), pp. 136-173
[18.]
R.S. Kovats, D.H. Campbell-Lendrum, A.J. McMichael, A. Woodward, J.S. Cox.
Early effects of climate change: do they include changes in vector-borne disease?.
Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci., 356 (2001), pp. 1057-1068
[19.]
P. Reiter, C.J. Thomas, P.M. Atkinson, S.I. Hay, S.E. Randolph, D.J. Rogers, et al.
Global warming and malaria: a call for accuracy.
Lancet Infect Dis., 4 (2004), pp. 323-324
[20.]
C.M. Willis, S. Shaw, O. De Lacharriere, M. Baverel, L. Reiche, R. Jourdain, et al.
Sensitive skin: an epidemiological study.
Br J Dermatol., 145 (2001), pp. 258-263
[21.]
L. Misery.
How the skin reacts to environmental factors.
J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol., 21 (2007), pp. 5-8
[22.]
L. Misery, E. Myon, N. Martin, S. Consoli, S. Boussetta, T. Nocera, et al.
Sensitive skin: psychological effects and seasonal changes.
J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol., 21 (2007), pp. 620-628
[23.]
M.A. Farage.
Perceptions of sensitive skin: women with urinary incontinence.
Arch Gynecol Obstet., 280 (2009), pp. 49-57
[24.]
J.M. Gardner-Medwin, I.A. Macdonald, J.Y. Taylor, P.H. Riley, R.J. Powell.
Seasonal differences in finger skin temperature and microvascular blood flow in healthy men and women are exaggerated in women with primary Raynaud's phenomenon.
Br J Clin Pharmacol., 52 (2001), pp. 17-23
[25.]
S.W. Youn, J.I. Na, S.Y. Choi, C.H. Huh, K.C. Park.
Regional and seasonal variations in facial sebum secretions: a proposal for the definition of combination skin type.
Skin Res Technol., 11 (2005), pp. 189-195
[26.]
K. Sardana, R.C. Sharma, R. Sarkar.
Seasonal variation in acne vulgaris--myth or reality.
J Dermatol., 29 (2002), pp. 484-488
[27.]
M. Gfesser, W.I. Worret.
Seasonal variations in the severity of acne vulgaris.
Int J Dermatol., 35 (1996), pp. 116-117
[28.]
J.E. Mohan, L.H. Ziska, W.H. Schlesinger, R.B. Thomas, R.C. Sicher, K. George, et al.
Biomass and toxicity responses of poison ivy (Toxicodendron radicans) to elevated atmospheric CO2.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 103 (2006), pp. 9086-9089
[29.]
V.A. Krashchenko.
The seasonality of pyoderma in workers of the Don Basin coal mines.
Vestn Dermatol Venerol., 10 (1989), pp. 55-58
[30.]
U. Kapil, A.K. Sood.
Morbidity pattern in children below three years attending a rural health centre in Haryana.
Indian Pediatr., 26 (1989), pp. 550-552
[31.]
S. Ahmed, A.K. Aftabuddin.
Common skin diseases (analysis of 7,636 cases).
Bangladesh Med Res Counc Bull, 3 (1977), pp. 41-45
[32.]
K.E. Nelson, A.L. Bisno, P. Waytz, J. Brunt, V.K. Moses, R. Haque.
The epidemiology and natural history of streptococcal pyoderma: an endemic disease of the rural southern United States.
Am J Epidemiol., 103 (1976), pp. 270-283
[33.]
V. Ki, C. Rotstein.
Bacterial skin and soft tissue infections in adults: A review of their epidemiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, treatment and site of care.
Can J Infect Dis Med Microbiol., 19 (2008), pp. 173-184
[34.]
M.E. McBride, W.C. Duncan, J.M. Knox.
Physiological and environmental control of Gram negative bacteria on skin.
Br J Dermatol., 93 (1975), pp. 191-199
[35.]
H.Y. Thong, H.I. Maibach.
Global warming and its dermatologic implications.
Int J Dermatol., 47 (2008), pp. 522-524
[36.]
J.A. Bouwstra, H.W. Groenink, J.A. Kempenaar, S.G. Romeijn, M. Ponec.
Water distribution and natural moisturizer factor content in human skin equivalents are regulated by environmental relative humidity.
J Invest Dermatol., 128 (2008), pp. 378-388
[37.]
A. Pons-Guiraud.
Dry skin in dermatology: a complex physiopathology.
J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol., 21 (2007), pp. 1-4
[38.]
M. Egawa, M. Oguri, T. Kuwahara, M. Takahashi.
Effect of exposure of human skin to a dry environment.
Skin Res Technol., 8 (2002), pp. 212-218
[39.]
K. Tsukahara, M. Hotta, T. Fujimura, K. Haketa, T. Kitahara.
Effect of room humidity on the formation of fine wrinkles in the facial skin of Japanese.
Skin Res Technol., 13 (2007), pp. 184-188
[40.]
S. Mac-Mary, J.M. Sainthillier, P. Humbert.
Dry skin and the environment.
Exog Dermatol., 3 (2004), pp. 72-80
[41.]
Y. Sunwoo, C. Chou, J. Takeshita, M. Murakami, Y. Tochihara.
Physiological and subjective responses to low relative humidity in young and elderly men.
J Physiol Anthropol., 25 (2006), pp. 229-238
[42.]
G. Hall, T.J. Phillips.
Estrogen and skin: the effects of estrogen, menopause, and hormone replacement therapy on the skin.
J Am Acad Dermatol., 53 (2005), pp. 555-568
[43.]
R.J. Rycroft, W.D. Smith.
Low humidity occupational dermatoses.
Contact Dermatitis, 6 (1980), pp. 488-492
[44.]
N.K. Veien, T. Hattel, G. Laurberg.
Low-humidity dermatosis from car heaters.
Contact Dermatitis, 37 (1997), pp. 138
[45.]
T.C. Chou, K.H. Lin, H.M. Sheu, S.B. Su, C.W. Lee, H.R. Guo, et al.
Alterations in health examination items and skin symptoms from exposure to ultra-low humidity.
Int Arch Occup Environ Health, 80 (2007), pp. 290-297
[46.]
K. Nordstrom, D. Norback, R. Akselsson.
Influence of indoor air quality and personal factors on the sick building syndrome (SBS) in Swedish geriatric hospitals.
Occup Environ Med., 52 (1995), pp. 170-176
[47.]
A.L. Rothman, M.I. Weintraub.
The sick building syndrome and mass hysteria.
Neurol Clin., 13 (1995), pp. 405-412
[48.]
P.A. Leggat, D.R. Smith.
Dermatitis and aircrew.
Contact Dermatitis, 54 (2006), pp. 1-4
[49.]
G. Byremo, G. Rod, K.H. Carlsen.
Effect of climatic change in children with atopic eczema.
Allergy, 61 (2006), pp. 1403-1410
[50.]
M. Denda, J. Sato, T. Tsuchiya, P.M. Elias, K.R. Feingold.
Low humidity stimulates epidermal DNA synthesis and amplifies the hyperproliferative response to barrier disruption: implication for seasonal exacerbations of inflammatory dermatoses.
J Invest Dermatol., 111 (1998), pp. 873-878
[51.]
M.M. Suárez-Varela, L. García-Marcos Álvarez, M.D. Kogan, A.L. González, A.M. Gimeno, I.A. Ontoso, et al.
Climate and prevalence of atopic eczema in 6- to 7-year-old school children in Spain.
ISAAC phase III. Int J Biometeorol., 52 (2008), pp. 833-840
[52.]
M. Denda, J. Sato, Y. Masuda, T. Tsuchiya, J. Koyama, M. Kuramoto, et al.
Exposure to a dry environment enhances epidermal permeability barrier function.
J Invest Dermatol., 111 (1998), pp. 858-863
[53.]
Y. Ashida, M. Ogo, M. Denda.
Epidermal interleukin-1 alpha generation is amplified at low humidity: implications for the pathogenesis of inflammatory dermatoses.
Br J Dermatol., 144 (2001), pp. 238-243
[54.]
Y. Ashida, M. Denda.
Dry environment increases mast cell number and histamine content in dermis in hairless mice.
Br J Dermatol., 149 (2003), pp. 240-247
[55.]
J. Hosoi, T. Hariya, M. Denda, T. Tsuchiya.
Regulation of the cutaneous allergic reaction by humidity.
Contact Dermatitis, 42 (2000), pp. 81-84
[56.]
W. Uter, J. Hegewald, B. Kranke, A. Schnuch, O. Gefeller, A. Pfahlberg.
The impact of meteorological conditions on patch test results with 12 standard series allergens (fragrances, biocides, topical ingredients).
Br J Dermatol., 158 (2008), pp. 734-739
[57.]
D.S. Rigel, E.G. Rigel, A.C. Rigel.
Effects of altitude and latitude on ambient UVB radiation.
J Am Acad Dermatol., 40 (1999), pp. 114-116
[58.]
P.J. Aucamp.
Questions and answers about the effects of the depletion of the ozone layer on humans and the environment.
Photochem Photobiol Sci., 6 (2007), pp. 319-330
[59.]
B. Diffey.
Climate change, ozone depletion and the impact on ultraviolet exposure of human skin.
Phys Med Biol., 49 (2004), pp. R1-R11
[60.]
M. Newchurch, E. Yang, D. Cunnold, G. Reinsel, J. Zawodny.
Evidence for slowdown in stratospheric ozone loss: first stage of ozone recovery.
J Geophys Res., 108 (2003), pp. 4507
[61.]
United Nations Environment Programme. Environmental Effects of Ozone Depletion: 1998 Update. Nairobi: UNEP; 1998.
[62.]
J.C. Van der Leun, F.R. de Gruijl.
Climate change and skin cancer.
Photochem Photobiol Sci., 1 (2002), pp. 324-326
[63.]
C.F. Sánchez.
COnsideraciones sobre la capa de ozono y sy relación con el cáncer de piel.
Rev Med Chil., 134 (2006), pp. 1185-1190
[64.]
S. Lautenschlager, H.C. Wulf, M.R. Pittelkow.
Photoprotection.
Lancet, 370 (2007), pp. 528-537
[66.]
F.R. De Gruijl, J. Longstreth, M. Norval, A.P. Cullen, H. Slaper, M.L. Kripke, et al.
Health effects from stratospheric ozone depletion and interactions with climate change.
Photochem Photobiol Sci., 2 (2003), pp. 16-28
[67.]
Altekruse SF, Kosary CL, Krapcho M, Neyman N, Aminou R, Waldron W, et al. SEER Cancer Statistics Review, 1975-2007. National Cancer Institute. Bethesda, MD. Available from: http://seer.cancer.gov/csr/1975_2007/ Accessed September 2009.
[68.]
M. Norval, A.P. Cullen, F.R. de Gruijl, J. Longstreth, Y. Takizawa, R.M. Lucas, et al.
The effects on human health from stratospheric ozone depletion and its interactions with climate change.
Photochem Photobiol Sci., 6 (2007), pp. 232-251
[69.]
F. Aubin.
Mechanisms involved in ultraviolet light-induced immunosuppression.
Eur J Dermatol., 13 (2003), pp. 515-523
[70.]
H. Niizeki, H. Inoko, J. Wayne Streilein.
Polymorphisms in the TNF region confer susceptibility to UVB-induced impairment of contact hypersensitivity induction in mice and humans.
Methods, 28 (2002), pp. 46-54
[71.]
S. Beissert, K. Loser.
Molecular and cellular mechanisms of photocarcinogenesis.
Photochem Photobiol., 84 (2008), pp. 29-34
[72.]
E. Healy, P.S. Friedmann.
Under the spotlight: skin therapy for asthma.
Clin Exp Allergy, 37 (2007), pp. 1261-1263
[73.]
M. Ichihashi, H. Nagai, K. Matsunaga.
Sunlight is an important causative factor of recurrent herpes simplex.
Cutis, 74 (2004), pp. 14-18
[74.]
A. Sleijffers, J. Garssen, H. Van Loveren.
Ultraviolet radiation, resistance to infectious diseases, and vaccination responses.
Methods, 28 (2002), pp. 111-121
[75.]
M.L. Kripke.
Antigenicity of murine skin tumors induced by ultraviolet light.
J Natl Cancer Inst., 53 (1974), pp. 1333-1336
[76.]
G.P. Pfeifer, Y.H. You, A. Besaratinia.
Mutations induced by ultraviolet light.
Mutat Res., 571 (2005), pp. 19-31
[77.]
T.M. Runger, U.P. Kappes.
Mechanisms of mutation formation with long-wave ultraviolet light (UVA).
Photodermatol Photoimmunol Photomed., 24 (2008), pp. 2-10
[78.]
T.M. Runger.
How different wavelengths of the ultraviolet spectrum contribute to skin carcinogenesis: the role of cellular damage responses.
J Invest Dermatol., 127 (2007), pp. 2103-2105
[79.]
Y. Ibuki, M. Allanson, K.M. Dixon, V.E. Reeve.
Radiation sources providing increased UVA/UVB ratios attenuate the apoptotic effects of the UVB waveband UVA-dose-dependently in hairless mouse skin.
J Invest Dermatol., 127 (2007), pp. 2236-2244
[80.]
G.M. Halliday.
Inflammation, gene mutation and photoimmunosuppression in response to UVR-induced oxidative damage contributes to photocarcinogenesis.
Mutat Res., 571 (2005), pp. 107-120
[81.]
S. Gandini, F. Sera, M.S. Cattaruzza, P. Pasquini, O. Picconi, P. Boyle, et al.
Meta-analysis of risk factors for cutaneous melanoma: II. Sun exposure.
Eur J Cancer, 41 (2005), pp. 45-60
[82.]
R.G. Freeman, J.M. Knox.
The factor of temperature in ultraviolet injury.
Arch Environ Health, 11 (1965), pp. 477-483
[83.]
B. Gerber, P. Mathys, M. Moser, D. Bressoud, C. Braun-Fahrlander.
Ultraviolet emission spectra of sunbeds.
Photochem Photobiol., 76 (2002), pp. 664-668
[84.]
The International Agency for Research on Cancer Working Group on artificial ultraviolet (UV) light, skin cancer.
The association of use of sunbeds with cutaneous malignant melanoma and other skin cancers: A systematic review.
Int J Cancer, 120 (2007), pp. 1116-1122
[85.]
M.M. Morales-Suárez-Varela, J. Olsen, P. Johansen, L. Kaerlev, P. Guenel, P. Arveux, et al.
Occupational exposures and mycosis fungoides. A European multicentre case-control study (Europe).
Cancer Causes Control, 16 (2005), pp. 1253-1259
[86.]
J. English, R.S. Dawe, J. Ferguson.
Environmental effects and skin diseases.
Br Med Bull., 68 (2003), pp. 129-142
[87.]
J.W. Fluhr, C. Cavallotti, E. Berardesca.
Emollients, moisturizers, and keratolytic agents in psoriasis.
Clin Dermatol., 26 (2008), pp. 380-386
[88.]
I. Nola, K. Kostovic, L. Kotrulja, L. Lugovic.
The use of emollients as sophisticated therapy in dermatology.
Acta Dermatovenerol Croat, 11 (2003), pp. 80-87
[89.]
M. Denda.
New strategies to improve skin barrier homeostasis.
Adv Drug Deliv Rev., 54 (2002), pp. S123-S130
[90.]
D. Barco, A. Giménez-Arnau.
Xerosis: una disfunción de la barrera epidérmica.
Actas Dermosifiliogr., 99 (2008), pp. 671-682
[91.]
J. Diamond.
Evolutionary biology: geography and skin colour.
Nature, 435 (2005), pp. 283-284
[92.]
C.A. Nowson, T.H. Diamond, J.A. Pasco, R.S. Mason, P.N. Sambrook, J.A. Eisman.
Vitamin D in Australia. Issues and recommendations.
Aust Fam Physician, 33 (2004), pp. 133-138
[93.]
S. González, M. Fernández-Lorente, Y. Gilaberte-Calzada.
The latest on skin photoprotection.
Clin Dermatol., 26 (2008), pp. 614-626
[94.]
Y. Gilaberte, C. Coscojuela, M. Saenz de Santamaría, S. González.
Fotoprotección.
Actas Dermosifiliogr., 94 (2003), pp. 271-293
[95.]
L.H. Kligman.
Prevention and repair of photoaging: sunscreens and retinoids.
Cutis, 43 (1989), pp. 458-465
[96.]
G. Barsh, L.D. Attardi.
A healthy tan?.
N Engl J Med., 356 (2007), pp. 2208-2210
[97.]
D. Yarosh, J. Klein, A. O’Connor, J. Hawk, E. Rafal, P. Wolf, Xeroderma Pigmentosum Study Group.
Effect of topically applied T4 endonuclease V in liposomes on skin cancer in xeroderma pigmentosum: a randomised study.
Lancet., 357 (2001), pp. 926-929
[98.]
K. Glanz, D.B. Buller, M. Saraiya.
Reducing ultraviolet radiation exposure among outdoor workers: state of the evidence and recommendations.
Environ Health, 6 (2007), pp. 22
[99.]
B.L. Diffey.
Is daily use of sunscreens of benefit in the UK?.
Br J Dermatol., 146 (2002), pp. 659-662
[100.]
A. Green, G. Williams, R. Neale, V. Hart, D. Leslie, P. Parsons, et al.
Daily sunscreen application and betacarotene supplementation in prevention of basal-cell and squamouscell carcinomas of the skin: a randomised controlled trial.
Lancet, 354 (1999), pp. 723-729
Copyright © 2010. Academia Española de Dermatología y Venereología and Elsevier España, S.L.
