[Quartz--its relevance for dermatology]

Next to oxygen silicium is the most common substance of our environment. It occurs mostly in form of quartz (SiO2). In the past silica was usually mentioned in connection with foreign body granulomas in dermatological papers. Recently relations between occupational silica exposure and several diseases were reported. Silica exposure was related to the development of scleroderma, lupus erythematodes and sarcoidosis. Pathogenetic connections may be due to a stimulating effect on fibroblasts and due to immunmodulating properties of silica.