198.A first-year woman medical student presents with patches of raised red
skin covered by a flaky white buildup on her knees and elbows. The patches
enlarge and become itchy and burning immediately before and during major
exams during the first year of medical school. A biopsy from her skin is shown
below. Which of the following is the underlying cause of this disorder?
Integumentary System 305a. Hyperplasia of dermal cells
b. A longer keratinocyte cell cycle
c. Production of cytokines by infiltrating inflammatory cells
d. Microabscesses of the dermis
e. Abnormal microcirculation in the epidermis
(Micrograph courtesy of Dr.Wolfram Sterry.)