THE SKIN BETWEEN GENETICS AND THE ENVIRONMENT

Key words: Skin, Skin diseases, Genetics, Molecular biology

Skin diseases are categorised according to their genetic characteristics and to the main functions of the skin: as a barrier against infectious agents, as a regulator of the water and thermal exchanges with the outside, as a mechanical protection and as a protection against ultraviolet radiation. The article also provides an overview of the main structural characteristics of the skin, of its evolutionistic significance, of racial differences, and of current knowledge of the molecular bases of the main genetic skin diseases.