What causes panniculitis ?

PANNICULITIS :


Panniculitis refers to a group of conditions that involve inflammation of subcutaneous fat. Despite having very diverse causes, most forms of panniculitis have the same clinical appearance. The diagnosis is established by a skin biopsy, as there are characteristic microscopic features depending on the cause. The most common form of panniculitis is erythema nodosum . 

Panniculitis takes place just under the skin, in the body's fatty layer. Panniculitis can look different depending on its cause or particular situation. Usually, it makes the skin feel hard and become painful and red or darker in some places.

Panniculitis is classified as mostly septal panniculitis or mostly lobular panniculitis depending on the site of the most intense microscopic inflammation. Most types of panniculitis have both septal inflammation (early) and lobular inflammation (later). Further classification is based on whether or not there issubcutaneous vasculitis  and the type of inflammation noted (neutrophils, lymphocytes, histiocytes, granulomas).

WHAT ARE THE  TYPES OF PANNICULITIS ?

While panniculitis can look different depending on its cause, doctors often place it into one of two categories: septal or lobular. Septal panniculitis affects connective tissue, while lobular panniculitis affects fat lobules.



Panniculitis can also happen when your immune system attacks your own blood disease. This causes blood vessels to become inflamed and then narrow, close off, or prevent blood flow. Commonly, this type of panniculitis is called erythema nodosum, and it usually happens in your shins. 

Other types of panniculitis include:

  • Erythema induratum. This type of panniculitis almost always appears in young women’s calves. It is typically caused by tuberculosis .  
  • Cold panniculitis. Also called popsicle panniculitis, this kind occurs in children when they are exposed to the cold. 
  • Subcutaneous sarcoidosis. Subcutaneous sarcoidosis is a side effect of the condition sarcoidosis. 
HOW IS PANNICULITIS  DIAGNOSED ?

Panniculitis often takes multiple biopsies to diagnose, which can be difficult because of the tissue samples needed. Sometimes blood tests or other medical testing is also needed. 

Panniculitis can be a good indicator that you may have an underlying condition like sarcoidosis, lupus, or multiple sclerosis. Because of this, you might need to consult with more than one physician, including different specialists. 

HOW TO TREAT PANNICULITIS  ?



Panniculitis caused by sarcoidosis will most likely go away within the first couple of years in which you have the disease. Treatments for this kind of panniculitis include taking  the counter pain relief over and wrapping the affected area in bandages. 

While those are treatments for specific types of panniculitis, simple pain management strategies can help until the inflammation from panniculitis goes away. Some of these strategies include taking anti-inflammatory pain killers, drinking a potassium iodide solution, or taking steroids. Simple home treatments like rest, compression socks, and elevating affected areas are also very effective. There is no one treatment for panniculitis. Because there are so many different causes, treatment can vary from case to case. Usually, if panniculitis is caused by an underlying condition, you and your doctor will focus on developing a treatment plan for that condition. However, there are some general pain-management strategies you can use. 

If the panniculitis is caused by a medication, simply stopping the medication and treating some of the symptoms is usually the best course of action. You should always consult with your doctor before abruptly stopping a medication. 


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

What are signs of cancer on the lips ?

Image
 LIP CANCER : Lip cancer develops from abnormal cells that grow out of control and form lesions or tumors on the lips. Lip cancer is a type of oral cancer. It develops in thin, flat cells — called squamous cells — that line the: lips mouth tongue cheeks sinuses throat hard and soft palates Lip cancer and other kinds of oral cancer are types of head and neck cancers. Certain lifestyle choices can increase your risk of developing lip cancer. These include: smoking cigarettes heavy alcohol use excessive sun exposure tanning Dentists are typically the first to notice signs of lip cancer, often during a routine dental exam. Lip cancer is highly curable when diagnosed early. WHAT ARE THE CAUSE OF LIP CANCER ? Lip cancer is a type of oral cancer that  begins Trusted Source  in the mucosa of the mouth. This is the tissue that lines the mouth. Lip cancer is the  most common  cancer of the mouth. More than 90%  of oral mucosa cancers, including lip cancers, begin in the squamous cells of the epi
Read more

What is the main cause of lipoma ?

Image
 LIPOMA : Lipomas are  benign soft tissue tumors . They grow slowly and are not cancerous. Most lipomas don’t need treatment. If a lipoma is bothering you, your healthcare provider can remove it with an outpatient procedure. A lipoma is a round or oval-shaped lump of tissue that grows just beneath the skin. It’s made of fat, moves easily when you touch it and doesn’t usually cause pain. Lipomas can appear anywhere on the body, but they’re most common on the back, trunk (torso), arms, shoulders and neck.   A lipoma is a lump of fatty tissue that grows just under the skin. Lipomas move easily when you touch them and feel rubbery, not hard. Most lipomas aren’t painful and don't cause health problems so they rarely need treatment. If a lipoma is bothering you, your provider can remove it. WHAT THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF LIPOMA ? Lipomas aren’t usually painful, but they can be uncomfortable if they press against a nerve or develop near a joint. Many people who have a lipoma don’t notice
Read more

What is Canker Sore and how to treat them ?

Image
  CANKER SORES  Canker sores are a tyoe of mouth sore . They can be irritating and painful but not contagious . Canker sore causes included stress , acidic foods amd minor injuries  to the inside of your mouth. Treatments include over the counter or prescription gels , ointments and rinses . Even without treatment , canker sores usually go away within two weeks .  Canker sores - or aphthous ulcers - are small , shallow ulcers that occur in the lining of your mouth . A canker  sore starts as a white or yellowish  mouth sore with a red border .  They're  usually very small but may grow to 1/2 inch in diameter . Get canker sore on your tongue , gums , roof of your mouth, inside  of your tongue . They can be  painful and often make  eating and talking uncomcomfortable .  There are two types of canker sores : 1. SIMPLE CANKER SORES : These may appear three or four times a year  and  last up to a week .  2. COMPLEX CANKER SORES : These are less common and occur more often  in the peopl
Read more