Description

Pyoderma gangrenosum (pie-o-DUR-muh gang-ruh-NO-sum) is a rare disease that causes large, painful sores in the skin. Ulcers can develop quickly. More often they appear in the legs.

The exact causes of pyoderma gangrenosum is unknown, but it seems to be a disorder of the immune system. People who have certain conditions that are at increased risk of pyoderma gangrenosum.

The condition usually goes away with treatment. But the blisters tend to leave scars and may appear in new places.

Symptoms

Pyoderma gangrenosum usually starts with a small bump on the skin. It might look like a spider bite. Within days can become a painful and open sore.

The pain is typically appear in the legs, but can develop in any part of the body. Sometimes appears around the surgical sites. If you have two or more ulcers, that can grow and melt-in-one.

When to see a doctor

Talk to a healthcare professional if you develop a painful, the rapid growth of the wound in the skin.

Causes

No one knows the exact cause of pyoderma gangrenosum. It is often seen in people who have autoimmune diseases, such as ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease and arthritis. And some studies suggest that it may be passed down through the families.

If you have pyoderma gangrenosum, get a cut or other wound on the skin that can cause new sores. The condition is not an infection and is not contagious.

Risk factors

Certain factors may increase your risk of pyoderma gangrenosum, including:

  • Be a woman between 20 and 50 years of age.
  • Having an inflammatory disease of the intestine, such as ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease.
  • Having rheumatoid arthritis.
  • Have a blood disorder, such as acute myelogenous leukemia or myelodysplasia.

Complications

The possible complications of pyoderma gangrenosum, which include infection, uncontrolled pain, scarring and changes in skin color after the affected skin healthy. This change in the color of the skin is called post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation as the skin darkens and the hypopigmentation postinflammatory when the skin loses color. People with brown or Black skin have a higher risk of long-term changes in the color of skin.

Prevention

You can't prevent the first instance of pyoderma gangrenosum. If you have the disease, it can help to prevent new ulcers by protecting your skin from injury. Injury or Trauma to the skin, including surgery, can cause the formation of ulcers.

It can also help control any other condition related to pyoderma gangrenosum.

Diagnosis

Your health care professional will talk with you about your symptoms and medical history and perform a physical examination. There is no test that can confirm a diagnosis of pyoderma gangrenosum. But you may need tests to rule out other illnesses that have similar symptoms. These may include blood tests, chest x-rays, an exam of the colon and / or a biopsy of the skin. A biopsy is a procedure to remove a sample of tissue for testing in a lab.

Correct and early diagnosis is the key to an effective treatment. You may be referred to a specialist in diseases of the skin. This type of doctor is called a dermatologist.

Treatment

The treatment of pyoderma gangrenosum is intended to reduce inflammation, control pain and help heal the wounds of the skin. Medications are the most common treatment. The treatment may also imply that the wound care, and surgery. Your treatment depends on your health, how many wounds it has, how deep they are and how fast that is growing.

Some people respond well to treatment with a combination of a drug that is taken orally, creams, and injections. The wounds can take weeks or months to heal, and it is common for the new to develop.

Medications

  • Corticosteroids. The most common treatment for pyoderma gangrenosum is a daily dose of corticosteroids. These medicines may be applied to the skin, which is injected into the wound, or by the oral route. The shape of the pill is known as prednisone. The use of corticosteroids for a long period of time or at high doses can cause serious side effects. To avoid these side effects, steroids may be used only for short periods of time to the control of the sores. And other drugs that target the immune system can be used long-term control of the disease. These are the so-called steroid-sparing or medications, steroid-sparing drugs.
  • The drugs that target the immune system. Some medicines may stop the immune system attacks the healthy tissues. Examples are steroid-sparing medications, cyclosporine, mycophenolate (Cellcept), immunoglobulin, dapsone, infliximab (Remicade®) and tacrolimus (Protopic). Tacrolimus is a type of medicine called an inhibitor of calcineurin. Steroid-sparing drugs may be applied to the wounds, injected or taken by mouth. These medications can also have serious side effects.
  • Medication for pain. Depending on the extent of your injury, you may benefit from medication for the pain, especially when the dressings are changing.

Wound care

In addition to applying the medicine to his wounds, a health professional can be covered with a damp non-stick dressing and, perhaps, a stretch wrap. You may be asked to keep the affected area raised. Follow the instructions that you receive for the care of the wound.

Surgery

Because pyoderma gangrenosum can be exacerbated by the cuts of the skin, the surgery to remove the dead tissue, is not generally considered a good treatment option. The Trauma to the skin can worsen existing wounds or bring on new ones.

If the sores are large and not healing, skin grafting may be an option. In this procedure, the surgeon connects a piece of skin from somewhere else in your body through the open wounds.

Coping and support

With the treatment that you are likely to recover from pyoderma gangrenosum. You can take a lot of time and you may feel stressed about whether the new ulcers form. You may find it helpful to speak with a counselor, medical social worker, or other persons who have or have had pyoderma gangrenosum. It is possible that you want to connect with a support group in person or online. Ask your health care professional for suggestions.

Preparing for your appointment

It is likely that you first consult your regular healthcare provider. Then, you may be referred to a doctor who specializes in diseases of the skin. This type of doctor is called a dermatologist.

Here's some information to help you prepare for your appointment.

What you can do

Before your appointment, make a list of:

  • The symptoms that you've had and for how long.
  • Key personal information, including any major stresses or recent life changes.
  • All the drugs, vitamins, and supplements you are taking, including dosage.
  • Questions to ask your health care professional.

What to expect from your doctor

Your healthcare provider is likely to ask you some questions, such as:

  • When did you first begin experiencing symptoms?
  • Nothing seems to improve the symptoms?
  • What measures have been adopted for the treatment of this condition yourself?
  • Have any of these measures helped?
  • Have you ever been treated by a health care practitioner for this condition?
  • If so, does the use of any other prescription treatments for this skin condition? If so, do you remember the name of the medication and dosage prescribed to you?
  • Do you have a skin biopsy?
Symptoms and treatment of Pyoderma gangrenosum