Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Skin Diseases and Disorders

Skin Diseases and Disorders

Skin is the first line of defense and encounters a variety of microbes. Some pathogenic strains are often the cause of a broad range of infections of the skin and other body systems. These conditions can affect people of all ages and may have different causes, including genetic factors, infections, autoimmune reactions, environmental factors, and lifestyle choices.
Gram-positive Staphylococcus spp. and Streptococcus spp. are responsible for many of the most common skin infections. However, many...

Skin Cancer

Skin Cancer

Skin cancer is a type of cancer that occurs when there is an abnormal growth of skin cells, usually triggered by damage to the DNA within the skin cells. It is primarily caused by exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun or artificial sources like tanning beds. Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer worldwide, and its incidence continues to rise.
Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC): BCC is the most common type of skin cancer, accounting for about 80% of cases. It typically develops in...

Endocarditis II: Clinical Features of Infective Endocarditis

Endocarditis II: Clinical Features of Infective Endocarditis

Endocarditis can present various clinical features depending on the causative organism and the patient's underlying health conditions. Initially, the clinical features of infective endocarditis develop gradually, presenting with nonspecific symptoms that can be easily mistaken for other illnesses.General SymptomsEarly symptoms of infective endocarditis are fever, chills, weakness, malaise, fatigue, and weight loss. These symptoms reflect the systemic nature of the infection and the body's...

Papillary Dermis

Papillary Dermis

Dermis
The dermis might be considered the "core" of the integumentary system, as distinct from the epidermis and hypodermis. It contains blood and lymph vessels, nerves, and other structures, such as hair follicles and sweat glands. The dermis is made of two layers of connective tissue that comprise an interconnected mesh of elastin and collagenous fibers, produced by fibroblasts.
Papillary Layer
The papillary layer is made of loose, areolar connective tissue, which means the collagen and...

Reticular Dermis

Reticular Dermis

The papillary and reticular dermis are the two layers of the dermis. They are made of connective tissue with fibers of collagen extending from one to the other, making the border between the two somewhat indistinct. The dermal papillae extending into the epidermis belong to the papillary layer, whereas the dense collagen fiber bundles below belong to the reticular layer.
Reticular Layer
Underlying the papillary layer is the much thicker reticular layer, composed of dense, irregular connective...

Changes in Skin Color: Clinical Perspectives

Changes in Skin Color: Clinical Perspectives

The first thing a clinician sees is the skin, so the examination of the skin should be part of any thorough physical examination. Most skin disorders are relatively benign, but a few, including melanomas, can be fatal if untreated. A couple of the more noticeable disorders, albinism and vitiligo, affect the appearance of the skin and its accessory organs.
Albinism
Albinism is a genetic disorder that affects (completely or partially) the coloring of skin, hair, and eyes. The defect is primarily...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Clinical and molecular improvements in pediatric patients with atopic dermatitis treated with dupilumab: an analysis from the TREATKids registry.

The Journal of investigative dermatology·2026

Same author

Update of the evidence- and consensus-based S3 guideline on atopic dermatitis: Systemic therapy with biologics or Janus kinase inhibitors and specific aspects of systemic therapy in pregnancy and lactation.

Allergologie select·2026

Same author

A Durability Index for Atopic Dermatitis: Indirect Comparison of Lebrikizumab, Dupilumab, and Tralokinumab in Maintaining Efficacy Under Variable Treatment Adherence.

Dermatology and therapy·2026

Same author

Efficacy and Safety of Nemolizumab at Week 48: Results from the Maintenance Phase of Two Global Phase 3 Pivotal Studies (ARCADIA 1&2) in Patients with Moderate-to-Severe Atopic Dermatitis.

Acta dermato-venereologica·2026

Same author

Sustained on/off-treatment disease control with abrocitinib for moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis.

The Journal of dermatological treatment·2026

Same author

Correction to: Real-World Evidence of Effectiveness and Safety of Abrocitinib, Baricitinib and Upadacitinib in Atopic Dermatitis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

American journal of clinical dermatology·2026

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 3, 2026

Dermoscopy Aids in the Diagnosis of Discoid Lupus Erythematosus

Dermoscopy Aids in the Diagnosis of Discoid Lupus Erythematosus

Published on: May 16, 2025

Skin diseases following a Christmas tree pattern.

Andreas Wollenberg¹, Tatiana Eames

¹Department of Dermatology and Allergy, Ludwig-Maximilian-University, Frauenlobstrasse 9-11, D-80337 Munich, Germany. wollenberg@lrz.uni-muenchen.de

Clinics in Dermatology

|March 15, 2011

Summary

Dermatologists analyze skin lesion patterns, including Head zones, Blaschko lines, and Langer lines. This review focuses on skin diseases exhibiting the "Christmas tree" pattern, often seen along Langer lines.

More Related Videos

Imaging CD4 T Cell Interstitial Migration in the Inflamed Dermis

Imaging CD4 T Cell Interstitial Migration in the Inflamed Dermis

Published on: March 25, 2016

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 3, 2026

Dermoscopy Aids in the Diagnosis of Discoid Lupus Erythematosus

Dermoscopy Aids in the Diagnosis of Discoid Lupus Erythematosus

Published on: May 16, 2025

Imaging CD4 T Cell Interstitial Migration in the Inflamed Dermis

Imaging CD4 T Cell Interstitial Migration in the Inflamed Dermis

Published on: March 25, 2016

Area of Science:

Dermatology
Clinical Medicine
Genetics

Background:

Skin lesion pattern analysis is crucial for dermatologists.
Three main patterns exist: Head zones (innervation), Blaschko lines (genetic mosaicism), and Langer lines (skin tension).
The thoracodorsal manifestation of Langer lines is the "Christmas tree" pattern.

Purpose of the Study:

To review primary and secondary skin diseases presenting with the "Christmas tree" pattern.
To highlight the clinical significance of pattern analysis in dermatology.

Main Methods:

Literature review of primary skin diseases with a "Christmas tree" pattern.
Inclusion of secondary skin diseases following this pattern via the Wolf isotopic response.

Main Results:

Pityriasis rosea, mycosis fungoides, secondary syphilis, exanthematic Kaposi sarcoma, exanthematic psoriasis, and Leser-Trelat syndrome exhibit the "Christmas tree" pattern.
Herpes zoster and indeterminate cell histiocytosis can also follow this pattern under specific conditions.

Conclusions:

Understanding these patterns aids in diagnosing various dermatological conditions.
The "Christmas tree" pattern, linked to Langer lines, is a significant diagnostic clue for several skin diseases.