How Type II Hypersensitivity Affects Those with Sensitive Skin

Type II Hypersensitivity is a complex immune response that can dramatically alter the lives of many, especially those with sensitive skin and unique health conditions. So, it’s important to recognize its signs for proper management and to help individuals take proactive steps toward better health.

Allergic reactions to certain foods and medications are quite common. However, you may not be aware of it, but your body can also react negatively to an autoimmune disease and even blood transfusions. Such a reaction can already be a telltale sign that you’re suffering from hypersensitivity of some sort.

Hypersensitivity “as an immunological dysfunction is defined as [an] exaggerated or inappropriate response of the immune system, which is mostly targeted at innocuous antigens with consequent tissue damage.” In simpler terms, it means your immune system thinks your cells are foreign bodies invading your body!

As a result, your immune system reacts abnormally, triggering a damaging immune response. This response is known as type II hypersensitivity. Let’s take a closer look at its mechanisms to understand it better.

Mechanisms Behind Type II Hypersensitivity

Type II hypersensitivity, also known as cytotoxic hypersensitivity, occurs when your immune system wrongly identifies your body’s cells as foreign invaders. Your immune system produces immunoglobulin G (IgG) and immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibodies.

The IgG and IgM antibodies, in turn, bind to antigens on the cells’ surface, triggering a damaging immune response. Why do we say damaging? This uncanny reaction of your immune system targets and destroys healthy cells.

Moreover, unlike type I hypersensitivity, which stems primarily from reactions to food or environmental factors, type II hypersensitivity is due to more severe immune system malfunctions; thus, it is relatively rare. As mentioned at the outset, your body’s reaction to an autoimmune disease or response to an incompatible blood transfusion can trigger type II hypersensitivity reactions. Certain medications can trigger immune responses that destroy blood cells, resulting in drug-induced thrombocytopenia.

Type II hypersensitivity can have life-altering consequences, especially if you have an autoimmune condition. Given that your immune system’s reaction to this hypersensitivity leads to the destruction of healthy cells, your skin and overall health may be compromised.

This destruction occurs through two main mechanisms:

    • Complement System Activation: When antibodies bind to antigens on a cell marked for destruction, they activate the complement system, a series of proteins that help destroy pathogens (disease-causing organisms). These proteins form a membrane-attack complex (MAC) wherein holes are punched into the cell membrane, rupturing it and eventually leading to cell death. Research on complement system activation shows that this pathway should be a critical factor in the immune system’s capacity to fight infections. However, severe damage occurs if the target is misdirected toward healthy cells.
    • Antibody-Dependent Cellular Cytotoxicity (ADCC): Here, the IgG antibody coats the target cell and attracts immune cells to engulf and destroy the cell. Ideally, the ADCC process is critical for targeting or marking infected cells as abnormal. However, in the case of autoimmune diseases, ADCC becomes destructive when it starts attacking healthy cells.

    These two mechanisms are integral to your body’s immune response. Nevertheless, if you have an autoimmune condition and your body wrongly marks its tissues as targets for an onslaught of attacks, then you could expect serious health consequences. That, in a nutshell, is how type II hypersensitivity works.

    Triggers of Type II Hypersensitivity

    Contrary to type I hypersensitivity, which is typically triggered by harmless allergens like pollen, type II hypersensitivity is due to dysfunctions in the internal immune system. Let’s look at a few autoimmune disorders and how they can trigger various intrinsic reactions:

    1. Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA): Here, antibodies mark red blood cells for destruction. Due to the rapid breakdown of red blood cells, hemolysis occurs. This refers to the release of hemoglobin into the bloodstream, which causes complications such as jaundice or kidney damage.
    Jaundice occurs due to a condition called hyperbilirubinemia, wherein there’s excessive bilirubin (a yellow pigment) in the blood. This explains why those who have jaundice have extremely yellow skin and eyes. If bilirubin levels go extremely high, substances that are formed when bile breaks down accumulate. This, in turn, causes severe itching all over the body.
    Kidney damage can cause extremely dry skin that feels tight, rough, and scaly. It can also cause itchy skin, swelling, rashes, and blisters.
    2. Myasthenia Gravis: In this autoimmune disorder, antibodies block acetylcholine (a neurotransmitter critical in body functions, particularly muscle contractions) receptors at the neuromuscular junction, thus preventing normal muscle function.
    It is said that myasthenia gravis requires lifelong treatment and monitoring since its symptom flare-ups, which include muscle weakness, drooping eyelids, and difficulty swallowing, are unpredictable. Research also showed that this condition could also be related to chronic urticaria (hives).
    3. Goodpasture Syndrome: In this rare autoimmune disease, antibodies go after the kidneys and lungs. If not treated promptly, it could lead to life-threatening damage. People exhibiting its symptoms (coughing up blood and kidney failure) must get an early diagnosis and immunosuppressive therapy to manage its progression.
    Kidney failure, if not addressed immediately, can lead to other health problems, including irritating skin conditions such as pruritus.

    Beyond Cell Death—Other Effects of Type II Hypersensitivity

    Interestingly, not all type II hypersensitivity reactions attack or destroy cells. Sometimes, antibodies bind to cell receptors and block their function without destroying them. Still, this leads to physiological disturbances, as evidenced by people suffering from autoimmune thyroid diseases like Graves’ disease or Hashimoto’s thyroiditis.

    One such condition is pretibial myxedema or Graves’ dermopathy, a skin condition characterized by plaques of scaly skin and swelling of your lower legs.

    Diagnosis and Management

    Blood tests are necessary to identify antibodies and evaluate blood cell counts to diagnose type II hypersensitivity properly. Some common tests are:

      • Complete Blood Count (CBC): This aids in evaluating your overall health and identifying various disorders.
      • Direct Coombs Test: This test helps identify antibodies latched onto red blood cells. This is necessary in diagnosing conditions like AIHA.

    Once blood tests have been completed, management strategies may be applied to alleviate symptoms and avoid triggers. Treatment may involve:

      • The administration of corticosteroids—medications that can reduce inflammation and suppress immune response.
      • The administration of immunosuppressive medications—drugs that help manage the immune system’s activity in patients with autoimmune conditions.

    The Connection to Sensitive Skin

    With everything we’ve discussed up to this point, we can see the connection between type II hypersensitivity, skin sensitivities, and other unique health conditions. Nevertheless, you may have noticed that the connection may not be necessarily direct.

    If you have sensitive skin, wearing hypoallergenic clothing can be crucial in maintaining comfort and preventing further irritation, particularly in cases of type II hypersensitivity. While the main concern in type II hypersensitivity is the autoimmune attack on organs or tissues, skin sensitivities can emerge as a secondary effect.

    How? The immune response may weaken your body’s natural barriers; thus, your skin becomes more vulnerable to irritation and discomfort. If you’re type II hypersensitive, you may experience heightened sensitivity to external factors, such as fabrics, dyes, and harsh chemicals commonly found in clothing.

    Although type II hypersensitivity’s root cause lies deeper in the autoimmune condition, the above-mentioned elements can aggravate already stressed skin, leading to flare-ups (rashes, redness, or discomfort). So, opting for hypoallergenic clothing made from organic materials that are free from potential irritants like synthetic fibers, latex, or chemical finishes can help alleviate secondary skin issues.

    Such clothing creates a protective layer or barrier between the skin and harmful external factors, thereby promoting comfort and reducing the risk of additional irritation. If your entire immune system is already compromised due to type II hypersensitivity, wearing clothing made from 100% organic cotton is a must.

    Doing so can help you maintain skin integrity, which, in turn, contributes to your overall well-being and helps you manage the broader symptoms of your condition. Recognizing potential risks before such manifestations complicate your quality of life is vital.

    If you need to overhaul your wardrobe, check out Cottonique’s offerings. Here, we are committed to providing allergy-friendly, skin-friendly clothing made from GOTS-certified 100% organic cotton. Our apparel is designed to be gentle on sensitive skin, helping you feel comfortable and secure whether you’re suffering from allergies, the secondary effects of type II hypersensitivity, or other unique health conditions.

    Having a better understanding of type II hypersensitivity is critical as this sheds light on a complex immune response that can significantly affect you. You’ll be better positioned to take proactive steps toward better health by recognizing the signs of type II hypersensitivity and seeking appropriate management.

    Explore Cottonique’s range of hypoallergenic clothing to find comfort and protection that aligns with your needs. Your skin deserves the best; we’re here to help you achieve that!

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    Thus, readers are encouraged to verify any information obtained from this website with other accurate references and review all information regarding any medical condition or treatment with their physician. As Cottonique strives to help those with allergies live better days, the hypoallergenic apparel brand encourages everyone to always seek the advice of their physician or other qualified health providers with any questions they may have regarding a medical condition.