Certain diseases that appear only or also on the skin are directly caused by microbial pathogens. These include, for example, herpes simplex and herpes zoster, measles or warts. Like all infectious diseases, infectious skin diseases often break out when the body’s own defenses cannot adequately fight them. Such an inadequate immune defense also opens the door to skin fungi. In addition, a weak immune system is less likely to recognize cancer cells, increasing the risk of tumors.
In chronic infections, chronic inflammations as well as allergies, there are usually excessive numbers of TH2 cells. This is problematic because the many TH2 cells then also react to things that are actually harmless, such as food components. On the other hand, the simultaneous lack of TH1 cells carries an increased risk of cancer, since this part of the immune system is responsible for eliminating degenerate cells. Thus, it is central for skin health to establish a balance between the TH1 and TH2 systems. In this context, among other things, the medicinal mushroom Coriolus has proven to be good.