Pyoderma gangrenosum
Overview
Pyoderma gangrenosum is a rare skin condition that causes large, painful ulcers. Treatment from a GP or skin specialist can help.
Symptoms
The main symptom of pyoderma gangrenosum is a large, painful ulcer on your skin. It usually starts as a small bump, spot or blood blister that gets bigger quickly and turns into an ulcer. Sometimes you may have more than 1 ulcer. Pyoderma gangrenosum ulcers: usually appear on the legs or chestmay also appear around acut or graze, a stoma (where part of your bowel is brought through an opening made in your tummy), or cuts from surgerymay leak fluid Other symptoms include: stiff jointsaching and painful musclesa high temperature
Causes
It's not always clear what causes pyoderma gangrenosum. It may be an autoimmune disease, where the body's natural defence system (immune system) attacks healthy parts of your body. It can also sometimes happen after an injury to the skin. You may be more likely to get pyoderma gangrenosum if you have certain conditions, including: inflammatory bowel disease, such asulcerative colitisorCrohn's diseaserheumatoid arthritiscertain blood disorders, such asmyelodysplastic syndromehepatitisBehçet's disease You may also be more likely to get pyoderma gangrenosum if you take certain medicines.
Treatment
How pyoderma gangrenosum is treated depends on how severe it is. It can take a long time for the ulcers to heal and you may have scars. Treatment may include: creams or ointmentsbandages and dressings to protect the ulcermedicines to calm or control your body's immune systemsteroid injectionsantibiotics Rarely, you may need surgery to remove the ulcers.