Differential diagnosis of inflammatory processes of the face.

We have discussed some aspects of differential diagnosis of inflammatory processes of the facial skin. The disorders mentioned include: eczematous processes, rosacea-like dermatitis, steroid rosacea, acne, especially the diagnosis and therapy of cystic acne, psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, viral infection (Heck's disease) and circumscribed scleroderma versus systemic sclerosis and hemiatrophy of the face. Our own findings reveal that the cytocinetics in the psoriatic lesion differ fundamentally from other epidermal inflammatory processes, especially as the DNS synthesis time is prolonged. And so we consider psoriasis to be an inborn fault in the metabolism of epidermal and other cells, which is only provoked by secondary influences (drugs, allergic reactions, local traumas). To our surprise cytocinetics in atopic dermatitis do not significantly differ in the dermal infiltrate from subacute allergic contact dermatitis. Pigmentation of the face also suggests the possibility of mercury intoxication.