If you experience red bumps on your skin that are warm to the touch and more than 1 inch in diameter, you may have erythema nodosum. While this condition is usually not serious, some cases are associated with serious diseases, such as Crohn's disease and inflammatory bowel disorders. Potassium iodide is sometimes used as a secondary treatment for erythema nodosum if other treatments fail.
Erythema Nodosum
Other symptoms of erythema nodosum include fever and achyness. This condition is usually idiopathic, meaning that the cause is often unknown. "Dermatology Online Journal" reports that the cause is unknown in as many as 37 to 60 percent of all cases. Doctors screen for other possible causes, such as the streptococcus bacteria, the hepatitis B virus, the Epstein-Barr virus and other infectious agents.
Treatment
Erythema nodosum often resolves by itself. Analgesics and non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs, such as aspirin, oxyphenbutazone, indomethacin and naproxen, are often all that is necessary to provide relief until the rash goes away. If an underlying condition is the cause, treatment of that condition provides effective relief. After infectious causes are ruled out, treatment with corticosteroids may help.
Potassium Iodide
Potassium iodide is a source of iodine. The "American Family Physician" notes that a supersaturated solution of this chemical can be used to treat erythema nodosum. The reasons why this treatment is effective are unknown, as this condition is not related to thyroid problems or an iodine deficiency. Appropriate doses vary widely. In some instances, it may be administered in pill form. This remedy should only be used under a doctor's supervision because it can cause hyperthyroidism.
Other Uses
As far back as July, 1983, "The Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology" reported that medical uses of potassium iodide had dwindled. Modernly, its primary use is to prevent thyroid problems caused by a nuclear emergency. The only diseases treated with potassium iodide are sporotrichosis, subacute nodular migratory panniculitis and erythema nodosum.
References
- PubMed Health: Erythema Nodosum
- "American Family Physician"; Erythema Nodosum - A Sign of Systemic Disease; Robert A Schwartz and Stephen J. Nervi; March 2007
- "Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology" Potassium Iodide in Erythema Nodosum and Other Erythematous Dermatoses; T. Horio, et al.; July 1983
- "Dermatology Online Journal"; Erythema Nodosum; Luis Requenaand Celia Requena; August 2011
