By Cara Murez
HealthDay Reporter
TUESDAY, April 25, 2023 (HealthDay Information) — Pores and skin situations stands out as the first signal that an individual has a rheumatic illness that may also have an effect on the joints, muscle tissues or ligaments.
It’s important to know what to search for, stated Dr. Kathryn Dao, an affiliate professor of inner medication within the Division of Rheumatic Illnesses at UT Southwestern in Dallas.
“Pores and skin lesions can happen at any time,” Dao stated in a college information launch. “If they’re related to an autoimmune illness, they are going to manifest when the illness is lively. When autoimmune ailments are handled, the pores and skin lesions will often enhance.”
Individuals ought to see their medical doctors if their pores and skin lesions are painful or if they’re mixed with different signs, reminiscent of fever, weight reduction, diarrhea or joint swelling. It’s effective to watch pores and skin situations to see whether or not they resolve on their very own if there are none of those different signs, Dao stated.
“If the lesions progressively worsen, sufferers ought to attempt to get in to see their physician sooner for an analysis,” she stated.
Dao stated it is vital to keep away from scratching pores and skin lesions, which can worsen or trigger an an infection. She additionally urged individuals to guard themselves from the solar and get common pores and skin checks.
Dao and colleague Dr. Benjamin Chong, an affiliate professor of dermatology at UT Southwestern, highlighted some frequent pores and skin issues that they are saying might foretell of a severe rheumatic situation.
Photosensitivity might be an early symptom of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) or dermatomyositis, a uncommon illness that may trigger muscle weak point and pores and skin rashes. Direct solar or ultraviolet mild publicity might injury the pores and skin, they stated.
Solar publicity might produce rashes, together with these which might be situated on the bridge of the nostril and cheekbones in these with SLE.
Some lesions would possibly appear to be ringworm with tough, crimson patches. This could sign subacute cutaneous lupus. Harm, reminiscent of scarring, hair loss, and lighter and darker pores and skin, may very well be everlasting in circumstances of discoid lupus.
Redness and itching would possibly seem over the scalp, chest, neck, eyelids, palms, arms and different areas uncovered to the solar with dermatomyositis. Sufferers may have thickened, crimson plaques on the knuckles. It’s vital to make use of solar safety when open air, together with sporting hats, long-sleeved shirts and pants.
Pink, raised, scaly, silvery and itchy pores and skin is usually a signal of psoriasis. The lesions are on the scalp, elbows and knees most frequently, however can seem on the face, armpits, again, navel, groin and buttocks. Scratching might produce extra lesions. Publicity to daylight can assist cut back lesions in these with psoriasis.
Sufferers with a situation known as Raynaud’s phenomenon have sluggish blood circulation. This could trigger white, purple or crimson coloring on extremities, together with fingers, toes, ears or nostril. Chilly or stress can act as triggers. Individuals with this situation ought to preserve their extremities heat.
Painful, giant, crimson nodules on the legs may very well be indicative of erythema nodosum, which is because of irritation of the fatty layer of pores and skin. This can be attributable to an an infection, drug response, being pregnant or an autoimmune illness.
Extra info
The U.S. Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention has extra on rheumatic ailments.
SOURCE: UT Southwestern Medical Heart, information launch, April 21, 2023