Purpura: what it is, types, symptoms and treatment

Purpura is a rare problem characterized by the appearance of red spots on the skin that do not disappear when pressed, being caused by the accumulation of blood under the skin due to inflammation of the blood vessels. Purpura is more common in children, but it can appear at any age.

The appearance of purpura can be due to several situations and, depending on its cause, treatment may be necessary or not. Usually, in children, purple disappears without any specific treatment, while in adults it can become a chronic problem, which can appear or disappear in periods.

It is important to consult a dermatologist or general practitioner when the symptoms of purple begin to appear, so that it is possible to identify the cause and begin treatment, if necessary.

Types of purple

1. Henöch-Schönlein purple

Henöch-Schönlein purpura, also known as PHS, is the most common type of purple in children under 10 years old and is characterized by the inflammation of small vessels, leading to the appearance of red spots, mainly on the legs and buttocks, and may lead to pain in the joints or in the abdomen. Learn about other symptoms of Henöch-Schönlein purpura.

How to treat: PHS usually does not require specific treatment, it is only important that the person is at rest and is accompanied by the doctor to assess the progression of symptoms. However, when there is a lot of pain, the doctor may prescribe the use of anti-inflammatories or analgesics, such as Ibuprofen and Paracetamol, to relieve pain.

2. Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura

Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura or ITP is an autoimmune disease characterized by a decrease in the number of platelets, interfering with the clotting process and leading to the formation of small red spots on the skin and bleeding from the nose. The diagnosis is made mainly through the analysis of symptoms and the blood test, which in these cases indicates less than 10, 000 platelets / mm³ of blood.

How to treat: The treatment for ITP is made according to the severity of the symptoms, and the use of drugs that decrease the function of the immune system may be recommended, avoiding a reaction against the body itself, injection of immunoglobulins or drugs that stimulate the production of platelets by the bone marrow, such as Romiplostim, for example. Find out more about what ITP is and how treatment is done.

3. Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura

Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura or PTT is a rare type of purpura that is more frequent between the ages of 20 and 40. This type of purpura is characterized by an increase in platelet aggregation, leading to the formation of thrombi and causing the erythrocytes to be ruptured. Thus, it is important that PTT is quickly identified and treated as quickly as possible to prevent anemia, loss of platelets and neurological changes.

How to treat: Treatment for PTT should be started as soon as possible, and plasmapheresis is usually recommended, which corresponds to a blood filtration process in which excess antibodies that may be impairing the functioning of the body and circulation blood is removed.

4. Fulminating purple

Fulminating purpura appears mainly in the newborn due to the lack of proteins related to clotting, which leads to the formation of clots that can hinder blood circulation and lead to the appearance of red spots on the skin that can become black due to the death of cells in those locations.

In addition, this type of purpura can be triggered by bacterial, viral or parasitic infections, for example.

How to treat: Treatment for fulminant purpura can be done by administering the missing clotting protein in the blood according to the doctor's guidance.

5. Senile purple

This type of purpura is characterized by the appearance of purple spots on the back, wrists, hands and forearms due to the aging of the skin, being, therefore, more common in people over 65 years old.

How to treat: Senile purpura does not need to be treated, as it does not represent a health risk and is not indicative of bleeding. However, if the person feels uncomfortable, they can make use of some types of creams or ointments with vitamin K that help to reduce stains, and should be indicated by the dermatologist.

See how to remove the 8 most common types of skin spots.

How the treatment is done

Treatment for purpura depends on its cause, but it is usually done with creams rich in vitamin K, such as Thrombocid, which must be spread over the skin until the spots disappear.

In the most severe cases, the ingestion of corticosteroid medications, such as Hydrocortisone or Prednisone, or surgery to remove the spleen, in the case of thrombocytopenic purpura, may be indicated, because it is in this organ that antibodies are produced that can destroy the platelets, causing the accumulation of platelets. blood on the skin. In children, babies or newborns the purple may disappear without treatment, but in the case of adults, treatment is always necessary.

Main symptoms

The most common symptoms of purpura include:

• Red spots on the skin - know other causes of red spots on the skin; Red spots spread throughout the body; Bleeding from the nose, intestines, gums or urinary tract; Pain at the spot of the spots; Fever.

In most cases, only small spots appear on the skin and usually do not need treatment.