Capillaritis | Medtick
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Capillaritis

What is it?

It is the in inflammation of blood vessels that are near the surface of the skin causing a leakage of red blood cells, that results in pinpoint – like haemorrhage’s (petechiae).

  • It is normally a life long condition and one can have ‘flare ups’.

There are many types:

Schamberg disease (progressive pigmented purpura)

  • Most common type of capillaritis.
  • Regular or irregular crops of red-brown flat patches with cayenne pepper spots on their borders appear for no apparent reason.
  • Most common on the lower legs, the Schamberg form of capillaritis can arise on any part of the body.
  • It is usually irregularly distributed on both sides with few or many patches.
  • There are no symptoms.

Kapetanakis eczematid-like purpura (itching purpura)

  • Eczema-like purpura appears similar to Schamberg disease, but itchy.
  • Reddish-purple macules appear around the ankles and may spread up the legs.
  • Itching purpura can also affect trunk and upper limbs.
  • Itching leads to scratching and lichenification

Gougerot-Blum purpura (pigmented purpuric lichenoid dermatosis)

  • Less common.
  • The patches are thickened and itchy, rather like eczema, but pathology is of a lichenoid reaction.

Majocchi purpura (purpura annularis telangiectodes)

  • There are dilated capillaries as well as brown patches and cayenne spots.
  • Annular (ring shaped) patches gradually spread outwards and form concentric rings.

Contact allergy

  • Capillaritis has been reported to be due to khaki clothing dye and to rubber.
  • It only affects skin in contact with the responsible material.

Lichen aureus

  • Lichen aureus is a solitary brown-yellow patch that is very persistent.
  • It often overlies a varicose vein.

Exercise-induced capillaritis

  • Develop on the ankles following prolonged or vigorous exercise (eg, after 18 holes of golf, tramping, or dancing), especially during warm weather.
  • The spots fade to brown within a few days and eventually disappear.
  • A burning sensation may occur as the new lesions appear.
  • Exercise-induced capillaritis can occur on a single occasion or recur regularly after exercise.

DERMnet NZ

  • The most common location for capillaritis is the leg, though it may manifest on the trunk and upper extremities.
  • Capillaritis never presents on the face.

Cause

  • Unknown
  • Periods of long standing
  • Venous hypertension (high blood pressure in the legs)
  • Food additives
  • Viral infection
  • After Exercise
  • Blood vessel disorder

Medication

Symptoms

  • Brown-red or deeply pigmented, pepper-like petechiae/dots in dark-skinned individuals?
  • Cayenne-pepper – coloured petechiae/dots in lighter-skinned individuals?
  • May be scattered over a body region or group together to form a flat red patch, which becomes brown and then slowly fades away over weeks to months?
  • Itching?
  • Brown-yellow patch that is very persistent over varicose vein?
  • Round (ring-shaped) patches gradually spread outwards and form concentric rings?

Complications /Information to beware of/General tips:

This condition may show similar symptoms to:

Please talk to your healthcare professional (i.e. Medical Doctor/Pharmacist) for further advice

Detailed Information

Please copy and paste any key words from the title: Capillaritis in the following respective 'Medtick References and/or Sources' to find out more about the disease (this also may include diagnosis tests and generic medical treatments).

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