Panniculitis is a set of skin disorders that result in the formation of painful lumps or nodules beneath the skin. There are several forms of panniculitis. Some varieties are less difficult to cure than others.
Panniculitis is a collection of diseases that cause painful lumps or nodules to grow beneath your skin. These lumps cause swelling in the fat layer beneath your skin. This layer is known as the panniculus, or subcutaneous fat. This sort of fat serves as insulation and aids in temperature regulation.
There are several forms of panniculitis. The kind you have is determined by the location of the inflammation within the fat cell. Panniculitis frequently affects the legs and feet.
If you have an infection, an inflammatory illness, or a connective tissue problem, you are more prone to develop panniculitis. These conditions can strike young or middle-aged women.
Continue reading to find out more.
How does it appear?
Although there are many distinct varieties of panniculus, the symptoms are always the same. The major symptom is the formation of uncomfortable or sensitive nodules in the layer of fat under your skin. The size of the bumps varies.
These lumps are most commonly found on your legs and feet. They may occur on your face, arms, chest, belly, or buttocks at times. The skin on top of these pimples may turn discolored.
The bumps are substantial and deep. The tissue around them may deteriorate. This is referred to as necrosis. When this happens, an oily fluid may flow from them.
You may also have systemic symptoms such as:
Malaise (fatigue, fever, and overall ill feeling)
Muscle and joint discomfort
stomach ache
weight loss due to nausea and vomiting
eye enlargement
These symptoms might appear and go. The lumps may disappear after a few days or weeks, only to reappear months or years later. After the bumps have faded, they may leave a groove or indentation in your skin.
Inflammation can also harm organs such as the liver, pancreas, lungs, and bone marrow.
What are the many types?
Panniculitis is classified by doctors based on whatever region of the fat layer under the skin is inflamed. The connective tissue around the fat is affected by septal panniculitis. Lobular panniculitis is an infection of the fat lobules.
This disorder can also have an impact on various types of immune cells in your skin, such as:
histiocytes lymphocytes neutrophils
The majority of panniculitis cases involve both septal and lobular inflammation. Some types include vasculitis, which is characterized by inflamed blood vessels in the skin.
Panniculitis can be classified into the following types:
The most frequent kind of panniculitis is erythema nodosum. It results in the formation of red, painful lumps on the front of your lower thighs. It also produces nonspecific symptoms such as fever, headache, and vision issues.
Cold panniculitis: This kind of panniculitis affects regions of skin that have been exposed to intense cold, such as when spending time outside.
Lipodermatosclerosis: This form is associated with venous issues and obesity. It is more common in overweight women over the age of 40.
Erythema induratum: This kind affects middle-aged women’s calves.
Sarcoidosis subcutaneous: This form is caused by the illness sarcoidosis.
Weber-Christian illness: This phrase refers to a kind of the disease that primarily affects women in their forties. It produces swollen thighs and lower legs. Other organs may also be affected.
What is the source of it?
Panniculitis is caused by a variety of disorders, including:
Infections caused by bacteria (such as tuberculosis and streptococcus), viruses, fungi, or parasites inflammatory diseases such as Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis diabetes injuries caused by intense exercise, exposure to extremely cold temperatures, or injections of medicine into the fat layer under your skin connective tissue disorders such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and scleroderma medicines such as sulfonamide antibiotics,
Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency is a hereditary illness that leads to lung and liver damage.
Panniculitis may not always have a clear etiology. This is referred to as idiopathic panniculitis.
How is this determined?
Your doctor will check your skin and inquire about your medical history and symptoms to diagnose panniculitis. Your doctor will most likely take a little piece of your skin, known as a biopsy.
The tissue sample will be sent to a lab to be examined under a microscope for symptoms of panniculitis and inflammation.
Your doctor may also do one or more of the following tests to rule out conditions that cause panniculitis:
a swab of the throat to screen for bacterial infection
a blood test to determine the alpha-1 antitrypsin erythrocyte sedimentation rate chest X-ray CT scan blood test to detect for inflammation in your body
What does therapy entail?
The purpose of panniculitis treatment is to reduce inflammation and alleviate symptoms. Your doctor will initially try to address the underlying cause of the inflammation. If a medication caused your symptom, your doctor may advise you to discontinue use.
Panniculitis is treated with the following medications:
medications such as tetracycline to treat an infection nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines such as aspirin (Bufferin) or ibuprofen (Advil) to reduce inflammation and alleviate discomfort
Antimalarial medicine hydroxychloroquine to reduce inflammation potassium iodide to relieve symptoms steroid drugs given orally or as an injection for a brief period of time to reduce inflammation
Without therapy, the pimples can sometimes heal on their own.
You can reduce swelling and discomfort by doing the following:
resting extensively, elevating the injured body portion, and using compression stockings
If therapies do not alleviate the bumps, surgery to remove the afflicted portions of skin is a possibility.
Outlook
Your prognosis is determined by the etiology of the inflammation. Some conditions are more easily treated than others.
Panniculitis is a condition that comes and goes. The bumps may form, last for a few weeks, and eventually dissipate. They may, however, reappear in the future. Some types of panniculitis cause permanent skin indentation.
Your doctor is the finest source of information regarding your specific situation.
Erin Balsa is a highly skilled and knowledgeable health journalist with a passion for educating the public on important health and wellness topics. With extensive experience in both traditional and digital media, Erin has established herself as a trusted voice in the field.