Chimney sweep cancer is a painful tumor lesion of the skin and subcutaneous fat in the area of the tubal ducts, surrounded by sebaceous and sweat glands.
Chimney sweep cancer was one of the most dangerous and common diseases in medieval Europe. It was caused by air pollution from combustion products accumulating in the chimney and leading to a narrowing of the pipe lumen. Over time, chimney sweeps began to use coal for kindling, which significantly improved the quality of smoke removal and contributed to a reduction in illness.
Symptoms of chimney sweep cancer include swelling and darkening of the skin, as well as increased skin temperature in the affected area. Chimney chimney cancer, also called cholestatic cirrhosis or gallstone disease, is a skin condition associated with obstruction of the flow of bile outward. The disease is manifested by the appearance of an abscess on the skin around the mouth of the chimney or in another part of the body where there is a focus of restriction of bile flow. Early symptoms include swelling of the upper body, including the face. Later, a hardened gray-yellow bruise appears around the basal layer of the epidermis with a white border. After some time, pain develops. Cancerous ulcers or scars, which can often spread to the internal organs of the skin, are caused when the flow of bile within the body is blocked when bile toxins enter the skin. This leads to acidosis and inflammation.