Lipedema and Lipedematous Scalp: An Overview

Lipedema is a chronic, painful disease that primarily affects women, characterized by abnormal fat deposition causing disproportionate swelling of extremities, typically sparing hands and feet. It often manifests at puberty and may worsen during pregnancy or menopause. The disease, affecting an estimated 10% of the female population, is resistant to dietary modifications, exercise, or bariatric surgery. Symptoms include pain, discomfort, tenderness, cold skin, and easy bruising. Treatment focuses on symptom alleviation, improving functional limitations, and preventing disease progression, with therapies including patient education, weight control, dietary counseling, physiotherapy, exercise therapy, psychosocial therapy, and compressive decongestive therapy. Surgical options include liposuction and lipectomy. Lipedematous scalp, a separate condition, is a rare disorder characterized by increased thickness of subcutaneous tissue resulting in a soft and boggy scalp, with unknown etiology and often unsatisfactory treatment response.