Effects of hyperuricemia on the skin

Uric acid is a final product of purine metabolism, and its concentration in the blood serum of healthy individuals is 3–7 mg/dl. Hyperuricemia is associated with higher cardiovascular risk, and its prevalence related to nutrition profile is characteristic for highly developed societies. It can lead to the appearance of certain skin lesions. On the other hand, uric acid is an important antioxidant, which is responsible for 2/3 of the antioxidant capacity of the body. In this article, the authors present skin lesions associated with gout (tophi, "miliarial gout", gouty panniculitis) and review the data of the literature and discuss the importance of hyperuricemia in psoriasis. Dermatologists’ awareness and knowledge about hyperuricemia may favor a faster diagnosis of this metabolic disorder based on skin lesions.