Dermatomyositis Frequently Asked Questions

A. Dermatomyositis is an uncommon muscle disease that is accompanied by a skin rash. It affects adults and children alike. In adults, dermatomyositis usually occurs from the late 40s to early 60s; in children, the disease most often appears between 5 and 15 years of age. Dermatomyositis affects more females than males.

A. The most common symptom of dermatomyositis is a purple or dark red rash that may occur anywhere on the skin, but most typically appears on the eyelids and in places on the skin where a muscle covers a joint, such as the elbows, knees, knuckles and toes. Additionally, there may be muscle pain, weakness, atrophy (reduction in size), and dysfunction. Symptoms can vary in intensity and frequency among individuals.

A. The exact cause of dermatomyositis is unknown, but the disease is similar to other autoimmune disorders, in which your immune system attacks itself. Research is taking place to identify other factors that may play a part in its development, some of which are an infection, undelying skin cancer(more likely in elderly) and genetic predisposition.

A. There's no cure for dermatomyositis. The primary aim of treatment is to control the skin condition and the muscle strenght and function. Treatment options include antimalarial medications, corticosteroids to reduce inflammation, immunosuppressant medications, intravenous immunoglobulins(IVIg) to reduce the immune response, pain relieving medications and steroid-sparing agents. Other important measures in the management of dermatomyositis include physical therapy, speech therapy, and dietary counseling.