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Dermatomyositis is a disease of the connective tissue that is related to polymyositis and can cause inflammation of the skin and muscles, among other symptoms.
“While the exact cause of dermatomyositis is unknown, it may be the result of an initial viral or bacterial infection or of subsequent treatment in genetically predisposed individuals,” says Dr. Kellie Reed, a board certified Dermatologist at Sanova Dermatology in Austin, Texas. It is twice as common in women than in men, and while it can occur at any age, it is more commonly seen in the 5th decade and in children between 5 to 10 years of age. Dermatomyositis is not that common, and is estimated to affect about 9.6 per one million people in the United States.
Dermatomyositis can cause:
Other symptoms of dermatomyositis include:
Dermatomyositis has been associated with underlying malignancies, especially ovarian cancer. “Women who develop dermatomyositis should be screened for underlying cancers,” notes Dr. Reed.
“Treatment for dermatomyositis is usually done with steroids and other immune suppressing medications,” explains Dr. Reed. Afterward, specialized exercises and therapy can be done to help mitigate symptoms and improve patients’ quality of life.
If you would like to have your skin checked by our certified dermatologists, or would like more information on dermatomyositis, contact us.