What is thickening of the skin

There are two main types of lichenification, each with different underlying causes. Lichenification is a term to describe hard, thickened areas of skin. These areas usually form due to repeated rubbing or scratching. When an underlying medical condition is responsible for the lichenification, healthcare professionals classify it as secondary lichenification. Primary lichenification results from behavior: continual itching or rubbing.

A doctor may diagnose lichen simplex chronicus. Another name for this is neurodermatitis. If a separate health issue causes lichenification, the person has secondary lichenification. Some possible causes of secondary lichenification include:. Lichenification can occur on different areas of the skin, depending on the type and the cause of the issue.

Primary lichenification most commonly appears on the:. The affected areas often develop a darker color, and the medical term for this is hyperpigmentation. A doctor may recommend more than one type of treatment for lichenification, depending on the cause. Over-the-counter or prescription medication, home care, and speaking with a therapist may each have benefits.

For people with secondary lichenification, it is essential to treat the underlying cause, such as eczema or psoriasis. A person may be able to use over-the-counter products, including moisturizers, to reduce itchiness and prevent rubbing or scratching. This causes scarring and thickening of the tissue in these areas.

There are several different types of scleroderma that can vary in severity. Some types are relatively mild and may eventually improve on their own, while others can lead to severe and life-threatening problems. There's no cure for scleroderma, but most people with the condition can lead a full, productive life. The symptoms of scleroderma can usually be controlled by a range of different treatments.

Localised scleroderma is the mildest form of the condition. It often affects children, but can occur at any age. This type just affects the skin, causing 1 or more hard patches to develop.

Internal organs aren't affected. Exactly how the skin is affected depends on the type of localised scleroderma. There are 2 types, called morphoea and linear. In systemic sclerosis, internal organs can be affected as well as the skin. This type mostly affects women and usually develops between 30 and 50 years of age. Children are rarely affected. Click here for a table of key features on skin biopsy in the main diffuse sclerosing skin conditions.

The biopsy confirmed his diagnosis. We prescribed 60 mg daily prednisone with a taper to 5 mg daily. The addition of mg hydroxychloroquine twice daily further reduced his symptoms within six months.

Our patient has not developed hematologic malignancies, which occur in about 10 percent of patients. Diffuse fasciitis with eosinophilia is uncommon, and its exact etiology is unknown. Case reports show intense exercise, trauma, chronic cutaneous graft-versus-host disease, drug exposures, bug bites and Borellia burgdorferi infection as possible triggers. Diagnosing diffuse fasciitis with eosinophilia involves lab testing, MRI and physical and histopathologic examination. Patients can develop elevated inflammatory markers, polyclonal hypergammaglobulinemia and eosinophilia; however, eosinophilia is not required for diagnosis given its rapid resolution with the start of therapy.

MRI will show fascial inflammation. Definitive diagnosis requires a full-thickness incisional biopsy from skin to muscle.

Findings typically include histiocytes, mast cells and eosinophils infiltrating the deep dermis, fascia and superficial muscle but usually sparing the epidermis, papillary dermis and adnexa. Lymphoplasmacytic inflammation is present, and sclerosis and fibrosis thicken the deep fascia.

Glucocorticoids GCs in moderate to high doses are the standard therapy for diffuse fasciitis with eosinophilia.