Sarcoidosis, until recently, was considered a rare disease. But nowadays, with the latest diagnostic methods, it has become more often diagnosed. This disease was first described more than a century ago. Then he was considered a form of tuberculosis. However, this statement was later refuted by official medicine.
Definition
Sarcoidosis is a systemic disease. It leads to damage to organic systems and tissues. The most frequently reported cases of sarcoidosis of the lungs and skin. Otherwise, this ailment is called Benje-Beck-Schauman disease (in honor of those doctors who worked on the study of this pathology). Sarcoidosis is inflammatory in nature. Belongs to the group of granulomatosis. In the process of development of pathology, clusters of inflammatory cells are formed, which are called granulomas.
Sarcoidosis has become the focus of attention of general practitioners, pulmonologists and general practitioners. The study of the causes of the disease, its diagnosis and treatment is relevant among physicians. Sarcoidosis can now be detected not only on the basis of the results of fluorographic studies, but also by skin signs.
Disease spread
Most often, sarcoidosis of the skin, the symptoms of which will be discussed below, is diagnosed in middle-aged people. More often, pathology occurs in women. It is extremely rare that this disease develops in children. The most important symptom of a disease is the appearance of granulomas. They are nodules located in the form of limited foci. May vary in size and shape. The disease does not belong to infectious ailments. Often, sarcoidosis occurs without any symptoms and is detected only during a physical examination of the patient.
Etymology of the disease
The exact causes of this ailment remain unknown. But most doctors believe that the development of this pathology is influenced by a whole range of reasons, including immunological, environmental and genetic factors. According to existing theory, pathogenic fungi, bacteria, parasites, plant pollen and toxic substances also affect. Officially, this ailment is non-infectious. However, the probability of the influence of microbial agents in the development of a disease such as skin sarcoidosis cannot be completely ruled out.
The causes of its occurrence are still unknown. There are two theories about this. According to the first, sarcoidosis is inherited. Fans of the second opinion argue that the onset of the ailment is associated with an individual's immune response to hormonal changes. The main reason is considered to be the hereditary characteristics of immunity, that is, its definite reaction to certain influences. As a rule, for the occurrence of an ailment, several reasons are necessary. It is worth noting that every third to sixth patient has a skin lesion of sarcoidosis.
The main types of sarcoidosis
As already mentioned, skin rashes are primarily characteristic of the disease. These are certain pathological changes that are expressed in the formation of red nodules, spots and plaques. With this disease, the so-called erythema nodosum occurs . Most often, small-sarcoidosis occurs. It is characterized by the appearance of a large number of small red spots that transform with time into nodules of dense consistency. Coarse sarcoidosis is expressed in the appearance of single nodules and, more rarely, multiple ones. The defeat of the skin in this case is expressed in the presence of sufficiently large spherical nodes, characterized by sharp boundaries.
Other forms of the disease
There are other varieties of the disease. Doctors distinguish:
- Diffuse-infiltrative sarcoidosis. Skin rashes form in the form of dense plaques. They are localized on the head or face. The boundaries of the formations, which are brown in color, are blurry. In diameter reach 15 cm.
- Broca-Potrie angiolupoid. Neoplasms are observed on the nose and cheeks. As a rule, at first they are spots of red or fillet color. Brown plaques then appear in their place.
- Chilled lupus of Bennier-Tenneson. Place of distribution - face and auricles. The lesions are red-violet and flat.
- Sarcoids Daria-Russi. This form of the disease is characterized by large nodes located under the skin and representing infiltrates. Localization - the area of the abdomen, hips and axillary hollows.
- Nodose-subcutaneous type. Subcutaneous nodes appear on the legs or trunk. There are few formations, they are painless and mobile. Sarcoids can merge, forming infiltrate plaques with a tuberous surface.
In general, sarcoidosis of the skin, the treatment of which we will consider in this article, is periodic. At the time when the nodules disappear, in the foci of the skin is different from healthy tissue. She has pigmentation and flakes. An exception is the lupus of Bennier-Tenneson. In this case, the foci after the disappearance of the rashes are no different from healthy tissue. Skin sarcoidosis, the photo of which is presented in the article, shows large lesions on the patient's face. Next is about the symptoms.
Skin sarcoidosis: signs of the disease
Specific symptoms of the disease: plaques, nodes, cicatricial sarcoidosis, macular-popular changes. Among the rare manifestations can be noted: ulcers, psoriasis-like changes, ichthyosis, alopecia, nail damage. It is noted that most skin lesions are accompanied by moderate symptoms. However, there are chronic skin lesions that lead to disfigurement of a person.
Skin sarcoidosis, the photo and symptoms of which are presented in the publication, has other distinctive features. Its feature is the formation of dense tubercles on the skin of the limbs, face and, in some cases, the trunk. The color of the seals changes from pinkish red to cyanotic and brown. Often there is a fusion of elements, there are brown spots of a small size on the skin, in some cases, tubercles appear.
Sarcoidosis of the scalp may be one of the first manifestations of the disease. In this case, it is necessary to diagnose other organs and systems, which can also be inflamed. The defeat of the scalp, as a rule, is combined with the presence of rashes on the skin of the forehead. In the center of the foci, a decrease in the density and diameter of the hair is observed, which may be the beginning of the formation of foci of alopecia.
Small and large sarcoidosis
Sarcoidosis is small and large. In the first case, nodules are most often located on the face, in the area of the elbow joints, décolleté, shoulder blades. Their sizes are small - about 0.5 cm. They are solid and dense, in color - a brick shade or reddish-cyanotic. Sometimes nodules can spread throughout the body. Palpation is painless. With the course of the pathological process, skin areas in the foci undergo pigmentation. Around the affected areas, clear pigment borders are formed.
If we consider the second option, then there are the occurrence of individual nodes. They are larger in size than in the previous case: they reach 2 cm. They do not differ in color from small ones. Most often appear in the face, neck, groin, sometimes on the outside of the hands. Acne eruptions of red or white color may form. Over time, the nodes often resolve and leave behind a pigmented skin surface.
Drug treatment
As a rule, with sarcoidosis, the following drugs are prescribed to patients: non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, hormones. Complex treatment is provided. The best methods of treating skin forms of this disease are glucocorticoids, methotrexate and antimalarial drugs. Hormonal ointments are rubbed into the affected area, and drugs are also used internally. In addition to these funds, sedatives and, in some cases, antidepressants are prescribed to the patient.
Skin changes that spoil the appearance negatively affect the general condition. The patient in this case can become depressed, fixated on his problem. Sarcoidosis of the skin of the face especially has a negative effect on the psychological state of the patient. It turns out a vicious circle: a nervous disorder further provokes the development of the disease, stimulating the emergence of new foci. Also, in addition to the above drugs, physiotherapeutic procedures are also connected: ultrasound, laser therapy and electrophoresis with hydrocortisone. Currently, the disease is not fully understood. Therefore, in some cases, the treatment is difficult. Doctors prescribe surgical methods that eliminate the symptoms.
Skin sarcoidosis: treatment with folk remedies
Sarcoidosis can be treated with folk remedies. They contribute to the fact that granulomas will dissolve, moreover, immunity as a whole will be strengthened. As a folk remedy used for this disease, propolis tincture often acts. It can be purchased at a pharmacy or made independently. For this, 100 g of propolis must be infused in a bottle of vodka for a month. The application is as follows: 25-30 drops dissolved in boiled water or milk, drink once a day in the morning, on an empty stomach. The course is 28 days.
Often sarcoidosis is treated with herbs. For example, for this purpose, tincture of radiolum pink is used. 15-20 drops of medicine should be dissolved in boiled water. Take in the morning: before breakfast and lunch. The tool must be drunk in two courses, each of which is equal to 25 days. The break between them is 2 weeks. Also, good results are given by herbal tea, which includes the marshmallow root, marjoram and sage stems, marigold flowers, birds of the mountaineer and plantain. The brewing ingredients must be mixed in equal parts. Then 1 tbsp. l pour the mixture with boiling water (1.5 cups). Insist for an hour in a bundled form. Take 2 tbsp. l four times a day. The course of treatment is 28 days. A break is a week. So it is necessary to repeat 4 times.
Very effective and a decoction of grape cuttings. It is necessary to boil 300 g of sprigs of bunch in 1.5 liters of water. Cook for 15-20 minutes, cool and strain. Drink with honey, like tea, 100-200 g per day. Sedative properties have tea from eucalyptus leaves, which is also used for this disease. In the morning, you need to fill 50 g of crushed leaves in a thermos and pour half a liter of water. In the evening, drink 100 g of infusion with honey.
It is worth noting that the considered decoctions in the treatment of sarcoidosis are used not only inside, but also in the form of lotions (except for eucalyptus tea). In the initial stage of the disease, it is also recommended to use onion ointment. It is prepared as follows: grated onion is mixed with sunflower oil and applied to the skin. In addition, you can make baths with sage, chamomile, string and calendula.
Recommendations
There are a number of recommendations, the observance of which will contribute to a faster recovery. As such, preventive measures against relapse of the disease do not exist. However, there are certain tips that will reduce the risk of sarcoidosis. Among them: maintaining a healthy lifestyle (quitting nicotine), treating diseases that cause a weakening of immunity, following a non-strict diet and a rational diet. Food should be consumed 5-6 times a day in small portions. Equally important is the ecology of the area, and it is also necessary to undergo a complete medical examination in the clinic.
It is necessary to exclude dairy products from the diet, reduce the use of sweets and salt. But the number of fruits and vegetables, on the contrary, increase. Fruits with the highest content of vitamin C should be selected. Avoid contact of the skin with aggressive substances that can cause irritation and allergies. If the patient is given adequate systemic treatment, the disease will quickly recede. This illness does not affect life expectancy.
Biopsy
For earlier recognition of sarcoidosis, the most effective method is a biopsy. It is used for early diagnosis of the disease using a minimally invasive procedure. With sarcoidosis, various organs and systems of the body can be affected. Along with the skin, the disease can affect the lymph nodes, liver, spleen, heart and nervous system. If a patient has sarcoidosis of the skin, he must undergo a full examination. Because often with this ailment, other organs are also affected.
Specific and non-specific lesions
Skin lesions are divided into specific and non-specific. Consider the first view. Foci of erythema nodosum occur without deformities, but are characterized by pain on palpation. May be accompanied by arthritis, fever. With an exacerbation of the disease, fatigue and rashes on the skin also occur, which last about 3-6 weeks. At the beginning of the development of the disease, warm, painful reddish nodes on the lower extremities appear. Bilateral formations, the size of which is from 1 to 5 cm, can change their color several times: from bright red and purple to yellow and green. Expressions are usually not observed. The nodes mostly heal without scarring. Nonspecific manifestations include calcification of the skin and lymphodema.
Sarcoidosis of the skin, the symptoms of which are expressed by specific lesions, is, as a rule, a spotty-papular type. There are foci of red-brown or lilac color, reaching a size of less than 1 cm. They are distributed in the face, neck, lips, auricles, limbs and upper back. Typical granulomas do not show signs of infection. Old scars, which are then damaged for whatever reason, can be infiltrated by sarcoid granulomas.
Survey
In a disease called skin sarcoidosis, the diagnosis usually includes a biopsy procedure and a general blood test with a white blood cell count and platelet count. In this case, in some cases, there is leukopenia, thrombocytopepia, anemia, most often - eosinophilia, decreased skin reactivity, hypergammaglobulinemia. In addition, patients are screened for calcium in their daily urine and blood serum. Half of the patients had hypercalciuria, 13% had hypercalcemia. The analysis of the level of ACF in the blood serum. In more than half of cases, it is elevated in patients. A biochemical blood test is also provided. It should also take into account the increase in ESR and antinuclear bodies.
With sarcoidosis, chest x-rays and computed tomography are performed, as this disease is often accompanied by their defeat. For a more accurate diagnosis, a skin biopsy is performed, after which the material, including the dermis and subcutaneous fat, is sent for histological examination.
Dieting
For a speedy recovery, you must adhere to a certain diet, which includes products containing omega-3 fatty acids. They stimulate the production of hormones, which are aimed at reducing inflammation. In addition to fish oil and flax seeds, you must eat fruits, vegetables and nuts. In this case, those products that increase the risk of inflammation should be excluded. For example, vinegar and other synthetic acid forms. It is necessary to minimize the use of sugar, flour products, fried, salty dishes, spicy sauces and seasonings, sweet carbonated drinks, dairy products.
In this article, we examined a rather rare disease - sarcoidosis of the skin, the photos and symptoms of which clearly demonstrate the clinical manifestations of this ailment. Treatment is carried out mainly with hormonal drugs. The prognosis in the presence of an acute form, as a rule, is favorable. Therapy is often prescribed on an outpatient basis.