International Journal of Dermatology | 2019
Cupping is contraindicated in Haily‐Haily disease – the seamy site of alternative medicine
Abstract
Hailey-Hailey disease (HHD) or familiar benign chronic pemphigus is a rare autosomal-dominant genodermatosis characterized by recurrent erythematous plaques with predilection for intertriginous areas. Histologically, HHD is characterized by incomplete suprabasal acantholysis due to different mutations in the ATP2C1 gene which encodes for a calcium transport ATPase essential for keratinocyte adhesion. Btadini et al. conducted heat-shock experiments on different types of fibroblasts and demonstrated an increase in ATP2C1 expression in all of them. They conclude that a combination of genetic and environmental factors is necessary for the manifestation of HHD. Cupping is a widely used ancient traditional technique to treat pain and various other conditions. After a specific point selection, a vacuum by manual or electromechanical suction is produced.