Quick Langerhans Cell Update, Links and Things I've Picked Out...

I've been following this forum and the research being done for about 6 months. Think we're heading in the right direction...

I found out about these Langerhans Cells when searching for what makes the skin macrophage in defence of a yeast infection.

Found this (Bottom Section):


http://www.healthyskinbydesign.com/overview_cell_structure.cfm


Important Quote 1: "Langerhans cells are believed to be crucial to the overall immune functions of the skin and appear to act as a kind of surveillance detector that aids in initiating defensive responses when the skin is exposed to undesirable elements."

I was thinking that what if due to constant picking / immune system problems these cells have been damaged and are basically going mental.

Important Quote 2: "Decreased activity of the Langerhans cells is believed to be affected greatly by exposure to UV light. UV exposure triggers free radical formation and Langerhans cells are extremely vulnerable targets of free radi­ cal attack."

Has anyone else noticed that after a day in the sun or during summer time in general that their lips look way better?

This led me to look for disorders affecting these cells and I found a condition called Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis which bears a huge resemblence to EC:


http://www.cs.tufts.edu/~cowen/tmb/science.html
I'd really advise reading this but I'll pick out a few quotes anyway:

Important Quote 1: "The Langerhans cell is involved in signaling in the immune system. These are circulating cells that are called, for example, to a site of a skin infection, to tell your body that you have a skin infection, to activate the immune system. When the battle is won and your body fights off the infection, normal Langerhans cells go home. With LCH, alongside of normal Langerhans cells, a person has a colony of defective Langerhans Cells, that keep growing, dividing, and calling their friends."

Important Quote 2: "There also seems to be annecdotal evidence in the literature that in some cases, in some patients, the process of uncontrolled growth and replication of these bad Langerhans cells can suddenly "burn itself out" without any medical treatment."

This has been reported in the case of EC hasn't it?

Important Quote 3: "Diagnosing LCH: the skin rash can take several forms, and all look fairly unremarkable. The correct diagnosis is usually only suspected by a pediatric dermatologist who is familiar with LCH-- most adult dermatologists have never seen this rash. In neonates, it can look like very early stage chicken pox or herpes (but then never progresses). Alternatively, it can look just like excema. In mild or early stages, it can just look like general red inflamation: In fact, terrible painful angry diaper rash that won't go away no matter what your dermatologist tries, might just be LCH. The most common form of the LCH skin rash, however, is mistaken even by pediatric oncologists for Petechia-- a rash caused by low platelet counts. In this form, even if you have never seen it, here are some clues that it might be LCH: 1) It's a non-blanching rash-- that is, many skin rashes, even if red, turn white if you press on them, this one does not. 2) Unlike Petechia, LCH rash has a preference for places that are not exposed to light and air, and skin-on-skin folds in particular. LCH rash can occur all over the body if it's terrible, but in anything less than the most accute cases, it is likely to cluster in places like the iguinal folds in the diaper area, the folds of the neck, behind the ears, and under the arms. There is a definititive diagnostic test, a special stain, but you have to guess it's LCH to try it."

This accounts for why some EC biopsies come back without anything significant found.

I'll return with the stuff I found on the treating of this in a bit (Unfortunately like Eczema and EC treatment isn't that prolific in curing this either) but Lactoferrin is one thing I found which seems to look a good bet.

I'd really appreciate some feedback on this...