[Helicobacter pylori and skin diseases--a (still) intact myth?]

Helicobacter pylori plays a key role in the aetiology of peptic ulcer, gastric cancer and gastric MALT-lymphoma. Based on a number of reports, a possible relationship of Helicobacter pylori infection to a variety of different dermatoses has been suggested, including urticaria, rosacea, acne-rosacea, atopic dermatitis, alopecia areata, Sjögren's syndrome, Schönlein-Henoch purpura, and Sweet syndrome. Larger case-control studies, however, do not confirm this relationship. Therefore, Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy cannot be generally recommended in these dermatoses.