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Livedo: causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment
Last reviewed: 07.07.2025
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Levido is not a disease, but a specific reaction of the skin to one or another influence.
Causes and pathogenesis of levodo. Distinguish:
- idiopathic levodo, when a permanent marbled pattern of the skin develops for no apparent reason;
- symptomatic levodopa, arising as a result of vascular obstruction (increased blood viscosity, arterioembolism, cryoglobulinemia, etc.), damage to the vascular wall (arteriosclerosis, vasculitis, antiphospholipid syndrome, syphilis, tuberculosis);
- Siddon's syndrome, which occurs with arterial hypertension, cerebrovascular accident, and transient cerebral ischemia. The condition worsens in winter.
Symptoms of levido. In the development of levido, a period of hyperemia (initial stage) and a period of pigmentation are distinguished. Levido can persist unchanged for many years. Subjective sensations are absent.
There are several clinical variants of levido, in which reticular, looped or ring-shaped vascular changes in the skin of a bluish-red color develop.
Marbled skin refers to the physiological reaction of the skin to exposure to low temperatures (cooling). When the body is exposed in a warm room, a distinct blue-red mesh is visible, in which round or oval normal areas are enclosed between its individual loops.
Reticular levido begins with the development of a network of visible red or blue-red patterns, which imperceptibly merges into normal skin. Gradually, the pattern acquires a brown or dark-brown hue. It is localized on the abdomen, thighs and other areas exposed to the harmful irritant.
The tree-like levido resembles a tree trunk from which branches extend in different directions.
Treatment of levido is symptomatic. The underlying disease, suspected of being the etiologic or pathogenetic factor, is treated. Vasodilators, angioprotectors (complamin, doxium), vitamin therapy (vitamins B1, B15, C, P), corticosteroids, physiotherapy (ultraviolet rays, diathermy), and sympathectomy are used.
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