title: Role of iron in dermatology.
abstract: Iron is involved in several biological reactions and is essential to almost all forms of life. In contrast, iron is potentially toxic. It may participate in many dermatological disorders, including pigmentation changes, inflammation, porphyrias, infections and cancers. The involvement of iron in these disorders entails a variety of mechanisms, including among others simple deposition processes, activation or inactivation of enzymatic systems, impairment of phagocyte functions and interference with apoptosis. A better understanding of the role of iron might provide novel therapeutic strategies based on iron-chelating and/or anti-oxidant agents.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Erasme University Hospital, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Simonart
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Van Vooren
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Parent
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Heenen
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Boelaert
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000502:physiology*; D010859:Pigmentation Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D007501:Iron