Cutaneous Complications of Treatments for Obesity
Treatments for obesity can have cutaneous complications too. Some commercial products aimed at reducing the appearance of cellulite use heat, and erythema ab igne is a well-known complication of heat application.[130] Also, herbal remedies for obesity are not without risk.[131]
Established pharmacological therapies for obesity have also demonstrated cutaneous side-effects. For example, dexfenfluramine (now discontinued because of associated valvular heart disease and pulmonary hypertension) has been linked with urticarial vasculitis[132] and orlistat therapy with the development of a lichenoid drug eruption.[133]
Jejunoileal bypass surgery is no longer performed as regularly for weight loss, as there are newer, less invasive techniques (e.g. gastric banding) and also because a considerable proportion of patients experiences side-effects such as polyarthritis, tenosynovitis, myalgia, fever, anaemia and renal failure. This condition, known as bowel-associated dermatosis and arthritis syndrome,[134] often responds to antibiotic therapy.[135–138] Cutaneous features are also found with postjejunoileal bypass surgery, including a pustular erythematous macular eruption with a neutrophilic infiltrate similar to Sweet syndrome,[135–137] a nonpruritic papular eruption with IgG and C3 deposition,[135] and erythema nodosum.[135–138]
The British Journal of Dermatology. 2011;165(4):743-750. © 2011 Blackwell Publishing
Cite this: Obesity and the Skin - Medscape - Oct 01, 2011.
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