Signs of skin atrophy and its causes
Skin atrophy is a pathological process that results in an irreversible change in its structure and a decrease in volume. First of all, elastic fibers suffer from destruction, but changes take place in this process in different degrees of severity in the dermis, epidermis, as well as subcutaneous tissue. The skin becomes thin and fragile, changes color and loses its elasticity.
This kind of atrophic changes occur with a certain group of diseases that have differences in etiologic signs and pathogenesis. They are united only by the clinical picture, which is observed in dystrophic disorders.
When can skin atrophy occur?
Distinguish the congenital atrophy of the skin, senile, primary and secondary.
Congenital pathology manifests itself in the form of atrophic birthmarks, aplasia, as well as hemiatrophy of the facial skin.
The primary variant of the disease occurs when it is not possible to determine the cause. This phenomenon is more common in women.
Secondary atrophy of the skin begins after some diseases or harmful effects.
Old atrophy is considered physiological, since its appearance is due to the usual processes associated with age. But it can be accelerated by various factors.
Pregnancy or obesity can provoke the development of atrophy: various conditions can occur:
- ( stretching of the skin occurs).
- Endocrine disorders.
- Dysfunction, exhaustion.
- CNS-related disorders.
- Rheumatic diseases.
- Infectious diseases( leprosy, tuberculosis).
- Disease of Itenko-Cushing.
- Traumatic injuries and burns.
- Exposure to radiation.
- Dermatological diseases( poikiloderma, red flat lichen).
- Use of products containing glucocorticoids, including locally as ointments.
Skin atrophy after hormonal ointments occurs as a result of suppression of collagen synthesis by them. Often this is observed when using these drugs during the treatment of psoriatic rashes. At the heart of the development of such atrophy lies the ability of steroids to constrict blood vessels and inhibit reparative processes. They also reduce the speed and process of formation of elastic fibers and contribute to increasing their degenerative changes. Especially it concerns fluorine-containing products for local use.
To improve the condition, doctors recommend stopping the use of such drugs, after which the condition of the skin comes back to normal. It should be noted that, first of all, this creates atrophic changes on the face and skin disruption in the formation of folds. If the use of ointments is necessary, then they are best applied in the evening, as it is proved that this period corresponds to the smallest proliferative activity of the skin.
Atrophy of the facial skin is a manifestation of disorders associated with the central nervous system. It can occur with malformations, craniocerebral trauma, encephalitis. This symptom can also indicate damage to the cervical ganglia of the spinal cord. Usually such changes affect only one side and are called hemiatrophy. As the progression changes not only the skin, but the process involves muscles and bone tissue. The face becomes asymmetric, all the hair falls out - eyebrows and eyelashes. Most often, such a disease affects children and young people. Very rarely observed changes in adults.
Depending on the prevalence of the lesion, diffuse atrophy( with lesions of large areas) is disseminated, disseminated( when minor foci are scattered among unchanged skin) and limited.
Treatment for skin atrophy
Treatment of skin atrophy is a complex process involving many specialists. To exclude or confirm the diagnosis, endocrinologists, allergists, neurologists or infectious disease specialists can be involved. The tactics of interventions depend on many factors - the etiology of the disease, the prevalence of the process, the age and general condition of the patient.
To improve trophism and restore the reparative abilities of the skin, it is recommended to take multivitamin preparations and preparations aimed at improving local blood flow( pentoxifylline or trental).It helps in such cases treatment with the help of physiotherapy techniques.
When forming atrophy of ulcers, neoplasms or ulcers, it is necessary to undergo consultation with an oncologist and surgeon. Presence of suppuration sites requires cleansing and opening of abscesses, and growths on the skin should be examined by biopsy to exclude oncopathology.
Sometimes the question arises of transplanting the skin from a less prominent place. Usually it is the inner thighs or the area of the buttocks.
How skin atrophy is manifested
Signs of skin atrophy are not difficult to notice. In these areas, it becomes thinner and begins to resemble a cigarette paper( Pospelov's symptom).This zone differs in color - it has a whitish or cyanotic shade, it is covered with fine folds or wrinkles, it is devoid of hair covering.
Atrophied skin is not moistened and has few fibers, so it is dry and inelastic, its areas can protrude over intact skin, or, conversely, fall down, forming pits.
On a large area of the lesion in the generalized form of atrophy, hematomas and hemorrhages can be noted, a vascular network is visible. With prolonged course, the disease can be regenerated into tumor formations or scleroderma. In the latter case, the skin is tightly soldered to the adjacent tissues, when palpation is not displaced or folded.
With uncomplicated forms of atrophy, the patient has no general complaints. Attachment of infection can give symptoms of intoxication in the form of headache, fever, joint aches and general weakness. But such manifestations are not typical signs of skin atrophy.
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