Lipodermatosclerosis

LAST UPDATED: May 12, 2022

Introduction

Lipodermatosclerosis typically arises in patients with venous insufficiency. Obesity is a common factor. It can present in two ways:

Sclerosing panniculitis: this is the acute form characterised by painful inflammation in the lower legs, above the ankles, resembling cellulitis. It can affect one or both legs. Refer to the related chapter Panniculitis

Chronic lipodermatosclerosis: may follow an acute episode or develop gradually. Features of chronic lipodermatosclerosis include pain, hardening of the skin, colour change - red / brown, atrophie blanche (localised white areas), an ''inverted champagne bottle” or “bowling pin” appearance, and leg ulcers. Refer to the related chapter Leg ulcers (and disorders of venous insufficiency)

Disclaimer - the author PCDS cannot accept responsibility for any misleading or incorrect statements, and the management of individual patients remains the direct responsibility of the individual doctor. We do however hope that visitors to this site can contact us regarding comments that are considered misleading or incorrect so that we can continue to improve the site.

Image Rights - The PCDS would like to thank Dermatoweb, DermQuest (Galderma), and others who have contributed images. All named individuals and organisations maintain copyright for the relevant images.