Pemphigus and diet. Have we solved the mystery of fogo selvagem?

The role of nutrition in causing or preventing skin diseases is an ongoing interest to clinicians and researchers. An example is the well-established relationship between the exacerbation of acute gouty arthritis and high purine foods. A recent phenomenon of the link between diet and skin disease is that between certain foods--including garlic, onion and leek--and pemphigus. This connection is being intensively researched by us in collaboration with Ruocco and colleagues at the University of Naples II School of Medicine and Surgery. Case studies with supporting histological and immunological evidence are accumulating showing the role of these foods in provoking and exacerbating pemphigus.