Dermatológia pre prax 4/2021

Koebner phenomenon: Diagnostic hallmark of psoriasis, its pathogenesis, and occurrence during coronavirus pandemics

Although the Koebner phenomenon (the emergence of a new psoriatic lesion at the site of damage to the healthy skin of a patient with advanced psoriasis) was first described almost 150 years ago, it is still an important symptom in the differential diagnosis of skin diseases. The list of triggering factors has also expanded, and in connection with the coronavirus pandemic, it is important to know that the Koebner phenomenon can also be caused by traumatization of the skin by wearing face masks and respirators, as well as by mass vaccination. The article also presents some biographical facts about Heinrich Koebner, and due to the unprecedented progress in understanding the molecular mechanisms of the pathogenesis of psoriasis, modern aspects of the origin of the Koebner phenomenon are described.

Keywords: psoriasis, Koebner phenomenon, pathogenesis, COVID-19, face mask