Skeleton and soft tissue findings in systemic dermatoses sometimes allow early differentiation between diseases affecting the skin only and those involving other organs too. Rarely, ossious alterations can be detected even before any cutaneous manifestations have shown up. Apart from a tabular survey, we refer in detail to the frequency as well as the diagnostic value of ossious and soft tissue findings in dermatomyositis, lupus erythematosus, systemic sclerosis, psoriasis, Reiter's disease, sarcoidosis, neurofibromatosis (Recklinghausen's disease), histiocytosis X, and pretibial myxedema. Particular attention is paid to the problems of differential diagnosis with special regard to rheumatoid arthritis.