Definition

A disease that causes inflammation of the skin and muscles. Signs and symptoms include a red or bluish-purple patchy rash on the face, eyelids, knuckles, elbows, knees, toes, chest, or back. The rash may cause swelling, itching, and pain. Dermatomyositis can also cause muscle weakness in the upper body, hips, and thighs; trouble swallowing; breathing problems; and calcium deposits, which look like hard bumps under the skin or in the muscle. People with dermatomyositis may have an increased risk of certain heart, lung, or connective tissue diseases and certain types of cancer, including cancers of the cervix, lungs, pancreas, breast, ovaries, and gastrointestinal tract. Dermatomyositis can occur in both children and adults.