What does thickening of subcutaneous soft tissue mean?
May 10, 2023
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Lin Yunfei
Introduction
Subcutaneous soft tissue thickening usually refers to abnormal thickening of the soft tissues beneath the body surface, commonly caused by inflammation, trauma, or other stimuli leading to cellular proliferation, edema, or atypical growth. For example, when a localized area of skin is infected by bacteria and accompanied by itching, excessive scratching may result in skin keratinization. Alternatively, the local skin may have suffered trauma, with over-repair by newly formed connective tissue during the healing process causing such thickening.
Subcutaneous soft tissue thickening usually refers to abnormal thickening of the soft tissues beneath the body surface. A detailed analysis is as follows:
Subcutaneous soft tissue thickening is typically caused by inflammation, trauma, or other stimuli leading to cellular hyperplasia, edema, or atypical proliferation. For example, long-term consumption of high-fat, high-calorie foods may result in excessive caloric intake that the body cannot promptly metabolize, causing fat accumulation under the skin. It could also be due to bacterial infection in localized skin areas, where prolonged severe irritation causes itching; excessive scratching then leads to skin keratinization, resulting in thickened and roughened skin. Additionally, local skin trauma may trigger over-repair during the healing process, with excessive formation of new connective tissue leading to hypertrophic scarring.
It is recommended to seek timely medical consultation, determine the exact cause at a hospital, and receive targeted treatment under a doctor's guidance.
