Symptoms
By Mayo Clinic staffSigns and symptoms of pyoderma gangrenosum include:
- Initially, one or more small, red bumps on your skin that resemble spider bites
- Painful, open sores (ulcers) with reddish-purple borders
- Achy joints or pain in your bones
- General feeling of unwellness (malaise)
The ulcers usually appear on your legs, but may develop anywhere on your body. If you have several ulcers, they may grow and merge into one larger ulcer.
When to see a doctor
Talk to your doctor if you develop unexplained blistering on your skin, an itchy rash or a sore that's slow to heal.
- Pyoderma gangrenosum. The Merck Manuals Online: The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals. http://www.merck.com/mmpe/sec10/ch117/ch117h.html. Accessed April 21, 2010.
- Peppercorn MA. Skin and eye manifestations of inflammatory bowel disease. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed April 8, 2010.
- Habif TP. Hypersensitivity syndromes and vasculitis. In: Habif TP. Clinical Dermatology. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby; 2009. http://www.mdconsult.com/book/player/book.do?method=display&type=bookPage&decorator=header&eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-7234-3541-9..00027-4--s0815&uniq=196584586&isbn=978-0-7234-3541-9&sid=986856689. Accessed April 21, 2010.
- Cohen PR. Neutrophilic dermatoses: A review of current treatment options. American Journal of Clinical Dermatology. 2009:10:301.
- Moschella SL. Neutrophilic dermatoses. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed April 21, 2010.

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