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 will even have an effect on the joints, muscle mass or ligaments.
It’s important to know what to search for, stated Dr. Kathryn Dao, an affiliate professor of inner drugs 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 may manifest when the illness is lively. When autoimmune illnesses are handled, the pores and skin lesions will normally enhance.”
Individuals ought to see their medical doctors if their pores and skin lesions are painful or if they’re mixed with different signs, corresponding to fever, weight reduction, diarrhea or joint swelling. It’s advantageous to observe 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 necessary 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 widespread pores and skin issues that they are saying may foretell of a critical rheumatic situation.
Photosensitivity may 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 gentle publicity may harm the pores and skin, they stated.
Solar publicity could produce rashes, together with these which can be situated on the bridge of the nostril and cheekbones in these with SLE.
Some lesions may appear to be ringworm with tough, pink patches. This could sign subacute cutaneous lupus. Injury, corresponding to scarring, hair loss, and lighter and darker pores and skin, might be everlasting in circumstances of discoid lupus.
Redness and itching may seem over the scalp, chest, neck, eyelids, fingers, arms and different areas uncovered to the solar with dermatomyositis. Sufferers can also have thickened, pink plaques on the knuckles. It’s necessary to make use of solar safety when outside, together with carrying hats, long-sleeved shirts and pants.
Crimson, raised, scaly, silvery and itchy pores and skin generally is 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 may produce extra lesions. Publicity to daylight will help cut back lesions in these with psoriasis.
Sufferers with a situation referred to as Raynaud’s phenomenon have sluggish blood stream. This could trigger white, purple or pink coloring on extremities, together with fingers, toes, ears or nostril. Chilly or stress can act as triggers. Individuals with this situation ought to hold their extremities heat.
Painful, massive, pink nodules on the legs might be indicative of erythema nodosum, which is because of irritation of the fatty layer of pores and skin. This can be brought on by an an infection, drug response, being pregnant or an autoimmune illness.
Extra data
The U.S. Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention has extra on rheumatic illnesses.
SOURCE: UT Southwestern Medical Middle, information launch, April 21, 2023
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