How to Treat Calcinosis Cutis
Calcium is an important mineral for the body. Besides being able to help maintain healthy bones and teeth, calcium also plays a role in the blood clotting process, helping to maintain muscle and nerve function. However, if calcium levels are too high, calcium will buildup and form calcinosis cutis. Calcinosis cutis is a condition where a lump forms on the skin due to a buildup of calcium in the skin. Then, how to treat calcinosis cutis? Check out the explanation here, but before that, you need to know the symptoms and causes of calcinosis cutis.
Symptoms of Calcinosis Cutis
Symptoms of calcinosis cutis are characterized by the presence of hard, yellowish-white bumps on the surface of the skin. Calcinosis cutis in certain cases there can cause itching and on reddish-colored bumps.
Calcinosis cutis in rare conditions can develop into blisters that do not heal and can cause tissue death (gangrene). Lumps in calcinosis cutis can develop gradually of varying sizes. In addition to occurring on the skin, calcium buildup can also occur in all parts of the body, including bones, blood vessels, kidneys, lungs, and reproductive organs.
Causes of Calcinosis Cutis
There are various causes of calcinosis cutis, depending on the type. The explanation is as follows:
1. Dystrophic calcification
Dystrophic calcification is a condition when there is damage to skin tissue that triggers the release of protein phosphate. Furthermore, this protein phosphate can cause calcification of the skin. This disorder can be caused by infection, acne, tumors, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis and dermatomyositis.
2. Metastatic calcification
Metastatic calcification is a condition when the levels of calcium and phosphate in the body are too high, causing lumps to form on the skin. Causes include hyperparathyroidism, chronic kidney failure, milk-alkali syndrome (too many foods high in calcium), excess vitamin D, bone disease (eg Paget's disease), and sarcoidosis.
3. Iatrogenic calcification
Iatrogenic calcifications can be caused by certain medical procedures or side effects of taking medications, for example:
- Infusion, the liquid used contains phosphate and calcium.
- Inject calcium chloride, calcium gluconate, or para-aminosalicylic acid while undergoing treatment for tuberculosis (TB).
- Heel stick procedure or taking a blood sample from the heel of a newborn.
4. Idiopathic calcification
Idiopathic calcification, the patient does not have a certain disease that underlies the occurrence of calcium accumulation so it is referred to as idiopathic.
5. Calciphylaxis
As with idiopathic calcification, the cause of calciphylaxis is also unknown. However, there are allegations of calciphylaxis related to several conditions or diseases such as: diabetes, excess weight, hyperparathyroidism and chronic kidney failure.
How Do You Treat Calcinosis Cutis
If on the surface of the skin appears a hard lump and yellowish-white color, then immediately consult a doctor. The purpose of doing an examination to the doctor is to find out the cause of the lump so that it can be treated appropriately.
The doctor will ask about the symptoms experienced and also the history of the disease that has been suffered. The doctor will then perform some physical examinations. In addition, the doctor also needs to carry out several supporting tests to confirm the diagnosis, such as:
- Blood tests to measure phosphate and calcium levels
- Scan with CT scan or X-ray
- Biopsy or tissue sampling of the lump
- Kidney function test and thyroid gland test
Treatment of calcinosis cutis depends on its cause and severity. There are several methods of treatment for patients with calcinosis cutis are:
1. Giving medicines
Doctors can prescribe medicines to inhibit the absorption of calcium by the body and reduce the occurrence of calcium buildup. Some of the medicines that can be given by a doctor are as follows:
- Infusion of immunoglobulin and warfarin, to treat small lumps
- Probenecid, bisphosphonates, and diltilazem, to treat large lumps
2. Surgery
Surgery for removal of the lump can be done if the lump is accompanied by pain and there are blisters, recurrent infections, or causing impaired organ function. Keep in mind, that wounds due to surgery scars can also trigger calcium buildup. Therefore, the doctor will perform surgery by removing a small part of the lump first.
3. Other therapy
Treatment of calcinosis cutis can also be done with laser therapy and iontophoresis. The purpose of laser therapy is to dissolve calcium deposits using a carbon dioxide laser beam. Meanwhile, iontophoresis is carried out to break down calcium by using a weak electric current.
How to Prevent Calcinosis Cutis
Calcinosis cutis cannot always be prevented, but the risk of developing calcinosis cutis can be reduced by avoiding the accumulation of calcium in the body. Ways that can be done are:
- Before undergoing treatment that can affect calcium levels, such as taking medication to treat hypertension and cholesterol, or undergoing hormone replacement therapy, you should consult with your doctor first
- Limit your intake of supplements that are high in calcium and you should consult your doctor first about the right amount of calcium intake based on your condition, age, and gender
- Implementing a healthy lifestyle, such as consuming healthy food, quitting smoking and avoiding alcohol
- If you are 65 years and over, you should regularly have blood tests to measure calcium levels
- If you were born with abnormalities in the kidneys or heart, you should check with your doctor regularly
That's an explanation of how to treat calcinosis cutis hopefully the explanation above can be useful.
