Purple Discoloration around the Eyes? Is it Dermatomyositis?

Dermatomyositis is a rare condition in which there is purple discoloration and edema around the eyes. They also have purple raised vasculitic patches on the fingers. They may also have Raynaud phenomenon.

 But, these are not the only main symptoms in dermatomyositis. People who have dermatomyositis also have fatigue, weight loss, fever and malaise and the cardinal feature, progressive, symmetrical proximal muscle weakness. Their pelvic and shoulder muscles become wasted and movements like squatting and climbing stairs become difficult. Usually the face muscles and distal limb muscles are not affected. 

This is a disease common among females. These patients are in a higher risk of developing pulmonary interstitial fibrosis, Raynaud phenomenon, arthritis and hardening and fissuring of skin over the purple surface of the fingers. 

This can be a part of paraneoplastic syndrome, so the patient should be checked for breast, lung ovarian and stomach cancers.  

The disease is treated with physiotherapy, steroids and immunosuppressive therapy.

Related Topics:

Causes of 'Black Eye' 

More in:

The Official Patient's Sourcebook on Dermatomyositis: A Revised and Updated Directory for the Internet Age

Myositis and You: A Guide to Juvenile Dermatomyositis for Patients, Families, and Healthcare Providers