[Cell membrane changes and skin diseases].

Biological membranes are laminar bilayers of lipoids with thermolabile biophysical properties. Changing temperatures not only result in altered polarity and permeability of the membranes, but also in changes of the various membrane receptors (e.g. histamine and beta-adrenergic receptors) and the cell makers. In healthy persons, lower temperatures (25 degrees) lead to elevated suppressor properties, and the T4 ratio is below 1.0. At 37 and 41 degrees C, there is a growing number of helper cells, and the T4/T8 ratio becomes normal again. In psoriatic patients, the number of helper cells does not change with the temperature. We also found some evidence for changes of the cell membranes in atopic dermatitis and chronic urticaria.