Causes and Symptoms of Pyoderma Gangrenosum

Pyoderma gangrenosum is an uncommon medical condition that results in skin ulcers. It can affect both men and women irrespective of their age, but is commonly seen in people above fifty years of age. Pyoderma gangrenosum is auto inflammatory and autoimmune in nature, generally affecting your legs.

Though the exact cause of pyoderma gangrenosum is unknown, yet there are certain conditions that can trigger its development on your skin.

Causes are mentioned as follows:

1. Rheumatoid arthritis
2. Crohn's disease (a disease related to your digestive tract)
3. Inflammatory bowel disease
4. Blood cancer
5. Cut or skin injuries
6. Ulcerative colitis( a digestive tract disorder)
7. Myeloid metaplasia( anemia with white and red immature cells in circulation)
8. Myelogenous leukemia ( a type of cancer affecting growth of immature blood cells)
9. Liver inflammation or hepatitis.
10. Damaged skin

Pyoderma gangrenosum may initially appear to look like an insect bite. But there are other symptoms that can help you to identify and distinguish it from an insect bite.

The common symptoms are as follows:

1. Painful sores
2. It may start as small pimples
3. Reddish or purple lumps or blisters
4. Sometimes the bumps may be pus-filled also

Pyoderma gangrenosum can spread very rapidly and cause skin ulcers to become severe. So it must be treated as soon as diagnosed.

Some of the treatment methods are mentioned below:

• Use of anti-inflammatory ointments.
• Administering corticosteroid drugs through injection.
• Pain relief medicines.
• Surgery
• Antibiotics