Bariatric Surgery and Its Effects on the Skin and Skin Diseases

The document from 2013 reviews the impact of bariatric surgery on skin health and diseases, noting both direct and indirect effects. Direct complications from the surgery include an increased risk of infection, wound dehiscence, necrosis, scarring, sutu granuloma, lymphedema, and neuropathy. Indirectly, the surgery can trigger or alter the course of skin conditions such as BADAS, psoriasis, and nutritional deficiency dermatoses. Notably, psoriasis may improve in some patients due to reduced inflammatory cytokines and leptin levels post-surgery. However, nutritional deficiencies after surgery can cause skin issues like glossitis, angular cheilitis, and dermatitis, even with routine supplementation. Alopecia is also a reported consequence, likely due to nutrient deficiencies. The document also discusses how obesity affects the skin, leading to disorders like acanthosis nigrans and striae distensae, and how post-surgery excess skin can cause various discomforts and hygiene issues. A study of 148 individuals showed common skin abnormalities post-surgery, and a comparison of 40 post-bariatric patients to 40 controls revealed changes in skin structure. Cases of vasculitis and other dermatoses have been reported post-surgery, possibly due to intestinal bacterial overgrowth, and there is a risk of angiosarcoma development. The conclusion stresses the complex relationship between bariatric surgery, skin health, and nutrition, and the importance of monitoring for nutritional deficiencies in post-surgery patients.