What is Lipodermatosclerosis and what causes it?
According to the Information Center for Genetic and Rare Diseases (GARD) lipodermatosclerosis is an inflammatory condition usually affecting the fat layer under the skin of the lower legs.
Other medical terms that are used to describe this illness affecting the skin and connective tissue are sclerosing panniculitis, hypodermitis sclerodermiformis and stasis panniculitis.
There is no real consensus on what the causes of lipodermatosclerosis are. The disease is often diagnosed in individuals suffering from venous insufficiency and increased blood pressure in the veins.
This illness can present itself in an acute manner without any prior illness or injury or it can develop slowly over time and eventually reach a chronic phase. With the acute form of lipodermatosclerosis, the affected portion of the leg is usually warm, red and tender. It can also be scabby with thickening of the skin.
The chronic presence of lipodermatosclerosis is characterized by pain as well as thickening and hardening of the skin. Other symptoms that can be present are pigmentation, scarring, fluid accumulation (edema), varicose veins and possibly ulcerations of the affected leg.
The common consensus in the medical community seems to be that lipodermatosclerosis is the consequence of long standing and advanced venous insufficiency (malfunctioning of one or more leg veins due to faulty or damaged valves inside the veins and pooling of blood in these veins, especially when standing).
Treatment Options for Lipodermatosclerosis
Because many individuals suffering from lipodermatosclerosis also seem to have venous conditions such as leaking valves and varicose veins as a result of venous insufficiency, the treatment is often directed at resolving these underlying vein conditions.
Compression therapy can be a central part of the treatment options designed to correct underlying venous problems. This includes particularly compression bandages and wearing compression stockings. Other more invasive treatment can include but may not be limited to weight loss, vein surgery, ultrasound therapy, as well as the use of topical steroids, anti-inflammatories, and pain medications.
Our Special Tip for Ongoing Research and Clinical Trials
The National Institutes of Health, through the National Library of Medicine, developed ClinicalTrials.gov to provide patients, family members, and members of the public with current information on clinical research studies. You can search for clinical trials enrolling participants with lipodermatosclerosis by clicking on the link above and using “lipodermatosclerosis” as your search term.
If you liked this post please let us know by clicking the Facebook like button or the G+1 button below. We also appreciate any comments and personal experiences you have to contribute.
Awesome work..
Having just been diagnosed with this condition after 12 years of having it is a great shock, but your article has been very enlightening, and helpful. Thank you for all your hard work x
I am trying to imagine how much work it took for you to write this amazing article, but I can’t. I’m sure you researched and did a lot of thinking to make these interesting points.
The website design is perfect and the articles are very fantastic.
Just simply wished to tell you I’m thankful that i came upon your website page!
Respect to post author, some superb information.
Great article. I found it very informative.
Me gusta mucho leer tu blog …. Gracias por tomarse el tiempo para escribir!
You need to take part in a contest for top-of-the-line blogs on the web. I will advocate this web site!
I think this website holds some very great information for everyone :D. “Experience is not what happens to you it’s what you do with what happens to you.” by Aldous Huxley.
Very interesting info! Perfect, just what I was searching for!
I truly enjoy looking through this internet site, it has got great articles.
I searched MetaCrawler for search and actually got this interesting page. Thanks so much!
The first time in ages that I have used ASK for questions and actually got a relevant site. Thank you!
Thanks for the great information.
Awesome post! I will keep an on eye on your blog.
Superb post. Appreciate it!
Your posts are highly interesting. I will come back in the future.
Some really interesting points you have written. Aided me a lot, just what I was looking for : D.