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INTRODUCTION

A number of disorders, both inherited and acquired, lead to local or generalized changes in the structure of the skin, clinically manifest as either thickening or thinning of the normal skin component. Thickening of the skin has various names according to the part of the skin that is affected and the process causing the thickening; thinning or loss of bulk is generally termed atrophy.

    Thickening of the skin inevitably occurs as a result of tissue edema in many inflammatory dermatoses that are more properly discussed elsewhere; however, when such processes affect the subcutaneous tissues, in which the inflammatory component is not visible as it is in the dermis, the diagnosis is often less apparent. Inflammation of the fat may cause initial swelling followed by later atrophy in some instances. This topic is therefore conveniently discussed within this chapter.

White/Cox: Diseases of the Skin, 2ed.(c) 2006, Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.