Fluid leaking from your skin, often referred to as weeping or lymphorrhoea, is a sign that the skin barrier has been compromised and underlying fluid is escaping. This can occur for various reasons, often indicating an underlying skin issue or a condition affecting fluid balance in the body. It's important to understand the potential causes to seek appropriate care.
Common Causes of Skin Leakage
The reasons for fluid leaking from the skin can range from direct trauma to underlying medical conditions that affect skin integrity or fluid retention.
Swelling and Fluid Buildup (Edema or Lymphoedema)
When body tissues accumulate excess fluid, they swell. This swelling puts pressure on the skin, making it stretched, thin, and more fragile.
- Lymphoedema: This is a chronic condition where excess fluid (lymph) collects in tissues, causing swelling, often in the arms or legs. When the swelling is severe or has been present for a long time, the skin can become very stretched and fragile, leading to leakage of lymph fluid.
- Scratching Swollen Skin: If the skin is already swollen and under tension, even minor trauma like scratching can easily break the compromised skin barrier, allowing clear or yellowish fluid to leak out.
- Rapid Swelling: Sometimes, fluid leakage (lymphorrhoea) occurs when an area of the body swells very quickly. The rapid increase in volume can overwhelm the skin's capacity to contain the fluid, causing it to weep through the surface. This can also happen with severe edema from other causes, such as heart failure or kidney disease.
Compromised Skin Barrier and Injury
The skin acts as a protective barrier. When this barrier is damaged or weakened, fluid from within the body can escape.
- Hurting Scaly Skin: Skin that has become thickened, dry, and scaly (often due to chronic conditions like eczema, psoriasis, or long-standing swelling) is more brittle and prone to cracking. Any injury or friction to such areas can cause the skin to break open and leak fluid.
- Skin Conditions:
- Severe Eczema or Dermatitis: Inflammatory skin conditions can cause the skin to become red, itchy, and blistered. If these blisters break or the inflammation is severe, the skin can weep clear fluid.
- Blisters: Caused by friction, burns, or certain skin diseases, blisters are pockets of fluid under the skin. If they rupture, the fluid will leak.
- Infections: Skin infections, such as cellulitis, can cause significant swelling, redness, and pain. In some cases, severe infections can lead to the formation of blisters or areas where fluid seeps from the skin.
- Wounds and Burns: Open wounds, cuts, abrasions, or burns naturally disrupt the skin barrier, leading to leakage of blood, plasma, or other body fluids.
When to Seek Medical Attention
Fluid leaking from your skin, especially if it's new, worsening, or accompanied by other symptoms, should be evaluated by a healthcare professional.
- Immediate Consultation: It is important to tell your doctor or nurse straight away if you have fluid leaking from your skin, as it can sometimes indicate an underlying issue that needs prompt attention.
- Accompanying Symptoms: Seek medical advice if the leakage is accompanied by:
- Increased redness, warmth, or pain around the area, which could indicate an infection.
- Fever or chills.
- A foul odor from the leaking fluid.
- Increased swelling or new areas of swelling.
- Any changes in the color or consistency of the fluid.
Understanding the cause of fluid leakage is key to proper management and treatment. A healthcare professional can accurately diagnose the underlying condition and recommend the most effective course of action.
