Primary Skin Vasculitis

About Primary Skin Vasculitis

Primary skin vasculitis is a form of vasculitis (inflammatory vessel disease) involving the vessels that supply blood to the layers of the skin. Many forms of vasculitis include inflammation of these vessels, but in primary skin vasculitis no other organ systems are affected.

Symptoms of Primary Skin Vasculitis

The symptoms of primary skin vasculitis typically last multiple weeks and can leave behind scarring.

Symptoms of primary skin vasculitis may include:

• Blisters
• Macules (flat, red patches of discolored skin)
• Purpura (purple patches on skin)
• Urticaria (rounded, itchy spots on skin)

Risk Factors for Primary Skin Vasculitis

Primary skin vasculitis tends to affect patients regardless of age or sex.

Risk factors for primary skin vasculitis may include:

• Health history: Infections or reactions to certain medications can cause primary skin vasculitis.

Treating Primary Skin Vasculitis at UT Health Austin

Like all forms of vasculitis, corticosteroids like prednisone can be used to address the inflammation associated with primary skin vasculitis.

Care Team Approach

At UT Health Austin, we take a multidisciplinary approach to your care. This means you will benefit from the expertise of multiple specialists across a variety of disciplines caring for you in one place. The Vasculitis Clinic care team includes rheumatologists, nurses, and medical assistants who work together to help you get back to the things in your life that matter most to you.

We collaborate with our colleagues at the Dell Medical School and The University of Texas at Austin to utilize the latest research, diagnostic, and treatment techniques, allowing us to develop the best treatment plan for you. Advanced imaging and lab testing are also available on-site if needed, including computed tomography angiography (CTA) and magnetic resonance angiography (MRA).

Learn More About Your Care Team