What Causes Skin Indentations?

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The main causes of skin indentations are lipoatrophy, fluid retention or a disease called edema. Kidney problems can also result in retention of excess fluid, leading to skin indentations.

Lipoatrophy is a disorder where fat layers that lie underneath the sin start disappearing. This is a very uncommon disease that causes shrinking of the skin under which fat has disappeared. Lipoatrophy usually affects isolated parts of the body, such as legs, the face and arms. In some cases, it can attack a big portion of the body depending on its severity.

Lipoatrophy can be caused by insulin injections, anti-retroviral drugs or corticosteroid shots. A person suffering from lipoatrophy may have numerous skin indentations, and the treatment depends on the original cause.

Fluid retention can be caused by the malfunctioning of the right ventricle or the kidneys and edema. For most people with edema, fluids usually accumulate under their skin, overstretching the skin and causing a dent. Although skin indentations are mostly observed in adults, they can also affect small children, especially if they have a kidney disorder or heart failure. If skin indentations persist, the person afflicted is typically advised to consult a doctor and not to buy medications to relieve the symptoms over the counter.