Key takeaways
- Kidney disease can cause facial swelling, itchiness, and blisters. Symptoms can depend on the stage of kidney disease.
- Uremic leontiasis ossea is a rare and severe complication of advanced kidney disease that affects the facial and skull bones.
- Home remedies can help alleviate symptoms such as itchiness. For uremic leontiasis ossea, surgery and other medical treatments are usually necessary.
Itchiness with kidney disease commonly occurs on the face. Other symptoms, such as swelling and blistering, can also affect the face, as well as other parts of the body.
In rare cases, kidney disease can also cause a rare condition called uremic leontiasis ossea. It causes the bones in the skull and face to overgrow.
If you have kidney disease, it is important to inform your doctor or another healthcare professional about any new or worsening symptoms.
They can advise on remedies or medical treatments that may help, as well as recommending any changes to your current treatment plan for kidney disease.
Some common symptoms affecting the face in people with kidney disease include:
- very dry skin, which is particularly common if you have end stage kidney disease, receive a kidney transplant, or have dialysis treatment
- itchy skin, particularly with advanced kidney disease
- facial swelling due to the buildup of salt and fluid
- swelling around the eyes
- blisters, usually with end stage kidney disease
- scarring after blisters crust over then clear
Some medications for the treatment of kidney disease can also cause side effects affecting the face.
For example, the immunosuppressive drug sirolimus can cause acneiform eruption, a skin rash that looks like acne, as well as inflammatory bumps on the skin.
Treatments
Treating kidney disease directly may help manage symptoms such as swelling and itchiness.
Your healthcare team may recommend emollients and antihistamines to help manage itchiness. Moisturizers can help reduce dry skin.
Limiting salt intake and taking diuretics at a healthcare professional’s advice may help to manage swelling and fluid retention.
Do not pop blisters, as this can make them worse and increase the risk of infection. Seek medical advice on ways to manage blisters that develop on the face.
Renal osteodystrophy, a bone disorder, is a common complication of chronic kidney failure. It is often connected to secondary hyperparathyroidism.
Uremic leontiasis ossea is a rare, severe type of renal osteodystrophy that causes an overgrowth of the bones in the face and cranium.
In particular, uremic leontiasis ossea affects the jaw. This can lead to an appearance that some people refer to as being “lion-like.”
Imaging tests such as computed tomography (CT) scans can help diagnose the condition. Receiving treatment is essential to help reduce the likelihood of complications such as:
- nasal breathing
- problems swallowing (dysphagia)
- slurred speech (dysarthria)
- upper airway obstruction, which can be life threatening
Treatments
As a 2021 article explains, there is limited information about treatments for uremic leontiasis ossea.
Surgery may be necessary to treat uncontrolled secondary hyperparathyroidism, which can lead to uremic leontiasis ossea. This may include parathyroidectomy surgery, to remove overactive parathyroid glands.
According to a 2019 case report, treatment for uremic leontiasis ossea can also include surgical contouring to reshape the face.
If you receive a uremic leontiasis ossea diagnosis, your healthcare team can discuss your treatment options with you and answer any questions you may have.
It is best to contact a healthcare professional if you develop frequent or persistent facial itchiness or dryness. There are many possible causes of these symptoms, and the healthcare professional can help determine the underlying cause.
If you have an existing kidney disease diagnosis, it is important to let your healthcare team know about any new symptoms or changes in existing symptoms. A nephrologist can help you create a suitable treatment plan for kidney disease, and this may include medical treatments or remedies for symptoms and complications.
Some common facial symptoms with kidney disease include dryness, itchy skin, swelling, and blistering. Some remedies such as emollients and antihistamines may help, as well as following a treatment for kidney disease in general.
In rare cases, uremic leontiasis ossea may develop. This causes overgrowth of bones in the face and cranium. Surgery may be necessary to manage this.
Contact your healthcare team if you have kidney disease and have concerns about new or worsening symptoms or complications. It is also important to contact your doctor if you have concerns about kidney disease in general.