How To Treat Calcinosis Cutis

Calcinosis cutis is a group of skin disorders characterized by salt crystal accumulation in the skin. This forms hard bumps called calcium deposits that do not dissolve. This results in lesions on the skin of numerous different shapes and sizes. There are five different types of calcinosis cutis. Dystrophic calcification happens due to the initial inflammation and damage done to the skin and is the most prevalent type of calcinosis cutis. Metastatic calcification is caused by abnormally elevated phosphorus and calcium levels in the body. Idiopathic calcification usually happens in a localized region of the body and has no defined cause. Latrogenic calcification happens as a result of medical therapy or a medical procedure that causes some type of skin damage. The last and most serious variation of calcinosis cutis is calciphylaxis, which is a result of abnormal phosphate and calcium levels in the body. Most patients diagnosed with calciphylaxis are in a stage of kidney failure, on dialysis, or have received a kidney transplant.

The treatment recommended for calcinosis cutis is dependent upon what underlying disease or cause is present.

Surgical Intervention

Surgical intervention when referring to calcinosis cutis involves the lesions being surgically removed from the skin. The white calcium deposits can develop in clusters or grow to become a large size. Most often these lesions form on the front of the legs, elbows, and fingertips. When lesions form in sensitive areas like the joints, they have the capacity to cause pain. They can also ulcerate, or split open, leaving the skin susceptible to bacterial invasion. Additionally, they can impair the normal functioning of other body parts and pose a challenge to individuals who have them in their daily activities. When the lesions become problematic in any of these ways, surgical intervention or removal may be recommended. Because calcification in the skin can be triggered by trauma to the skin due to a surgical procedure, usually a small test excision is performed before the large scale removal of problematic lesions. This is done to ensure the patient is not sensitive to the surgery and to ensure there is no post-excision recurrence.

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