Dermatological manifestations of Down's syndrome

Down's syndrome (DS) is associated with rare dermatological disorders and increased frequency of some common dermatoses. Owing to advances in medical care and changes in attitude, the median age of death in this population has increased to 49 years, and the life expectancy of a 1-year-old person with DS today is more than 60 years and is likely to improve. With the increase in the number of individuals with DS in the population and an increased life span, dermatologists are more likely to encounter the wide spectrum of dermatological disorders that occurs in these patients. Furthermore, new reports of possible associations are frequent in the literature. The purpose of this article is to discuss the various dermatological conditions that affect DS individuals. A brief overview is given of the new information on genetics and the immunology of DS. We also discuss the molecular mechanisms of premature ageing, to which DS individuals are prone. We review the literature and discuss the known dermatological manifestations, concentrating on recent reports.