| SKIN INVOLVEMENT: MAIN MENU |
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| Collagen Injections, Face Lifts, and Scleroderma |
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| Overview of Collagen Injections |
| Patients with certain connective tissue diseases may have an increased risk of severe allergic reactions to collagen injections. These connective tissue diseases include, but are not limited to, rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma, and juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. They also include polymyositis and dermatomyositis (PM/DM), which are chronic, progressive, and sometimes fatal inflammatory disorders. |
| Thus, collagen injections should be used with caution in people who have had these diseases. Some experts recommend that people who have had these diseases should either not be given collagen injections at all or should be given multiple skin tests before treatment. |
| Collagen Injections and Autoimmune Diseases |
| Who should not have collagen injections? "People who have collagen vascular diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, scleroderma, systemic or discoid lupus, polymyonitis and C.R.E.S.T. syndrome should never have collagen injections. Others that are receiving immuno suppressive therapy for cancer and hemophiliacs are also not candidates. Since there is lidocaine in the collagen, people who are allergic to lidocaine are not candidates." Excerpt from expired article by Roger Y. Murray, M.D., The Murray Center. |
| Are there any other types of reactions I should be aware of? An increased incidence of cell-mediated and humoral immunity to various collagens have been found in systemic connective tissue diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, and progressive systemic sclerosis (scleroderma). Patients with these diseases may thus have an increased susceptibility to an allergic response and/or accelerated clearance of their implants when injected with bovine dermal collagen preparations. If you have any of these diseases, you should discuss this specifically with your doctor. Excerpt from expired article. Myron M. Persoff, M.D., F.A.C.S. |
| Face Lifts and Scleroderma |
| Avoid face-lifts if you have lupus or scleroderma - autoimmune diseases - which affect your face. Lupus can cause a rash on your face, and scleroderma can cause facial skin to grow hard and thick. If you're taking medications that suppress your immune system for other autoimmune diseases, you may need to avoid surgery, as well, since the drugs can slow your healing process. (Expired article from Cybernoon.com 08/29/05.) |
| Scleroderma Lips |
| Scleroderma Lips Deep lines around the lips worry many scleroderma sufferers but unfortunately collagen injections and laser treatment are not advisable as they may cause scarring. Tightening of the skin of the face may lead to microstomia - a small mouth. Facial and mouth exercises may help. "Disappearing lips" can be a very upsetting cosmetic problem and a reputable plastic surgeon may be able to perform an operation called a mucosal advancement. Royal Free Hospital. (Also see Dental Involvement) |
| Collagen Injections Causing Connective Tissue Diseases |
| Some physicians have reported that patients developed PM/DM and other connective tissue diseases after receiving collagen injections even though they never had these diseases before. FDA is investigating whether there is a cause-and-effect relationship between having collagen treatments and later developing PM/DM or similar diseases. FDA, August 1991. (Also see Causes of Scleroderma) |
| Collagen Injections to Repair Linear/Morphea Lesions |
| Bilateral Linear Morphea (en coup de sabre) Atrophic lesions also may be treated surgically with collagen injections and autologous fat transplantation. Expired article from Wayne State University School of Medicine, Dept. of Dermatology, 2002. |
