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Pyoderma Gangrenosum

By

The Manual's Editorial Staff

Reviewed/Revised Jan 2023
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What is pyoderma gangrenosum?

Pyoderma gangrenosum is a skin disease in which you get large sores on your skin, usually on your legs.

What causes pyoderma gangrenosum?

What are the symptoms of pyoderma gangrenosum?

Symptoms of pyoderma gangrenosum include:

  • A red bump or blister that becomes an open, painful sore that grows quickly

  • Raised area around the sore that is dark or purple

  • Fever

  • General feeling of illness

Sores from pyoderma gangrenosum can get worse from:

  • Biopsy (taking out part of the tissue to look at under a microscope)

  • Cleaning dead skin from the wound (called debridement)—although debridement usually helps wounds heal, debriding the sores of pyoderma gangrenosum makes them worse instead of better

Symptoms can sometimes spread to other areas, such as your belly area, bones, lungs, or muscles.

How can doctors tell if I have pyoderma gangrenosum?

Doctors can usually tell if you have pyoderma gangrenosum by looking at the sores.

How do doctors treat pyoderma gangrenosum?

Doctors treat pyoderma gangrenosum using:

  • Dressings to protect your skin

  • Corticosteroids

  • Sometimes medicine to calm down your immune system

Doctors don't usually do surgery, because it makes the sores worse.

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