What causes PG?

The exact cause of PG is unknown, but it is thought to be due to a combination of genetic factors and dysfunction of the immune system, especially neutrophils (a type of white blood cell), and inflammatory signaling molecules.

Inflammatory signaling molecules are chemicals your body’s immune system send out to tell cells to react during injury or infection. They help fight off germs and start the healing process, but in PG they can sometimes cause too much inflammation which can damage the skin. 
PG is considered an autoinflammatory disease, meaning that the body is overreacting to its own tissue, in this case the skin.

Common Risk Factors 

Associated health conditions: Underlying immune-mediated disease such as inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis), hematological disorders (leukemia, myeloma, etc.), and inflammatory rheumatological disorders (rheumatoid and psoriatic arthritis). 

Skin trauma or injury: Minor cuts, surgery, or any injury to the skin can trigger new lesions. This phenomenon is known as pathergy.

Genetic predisposition: Some families carry mutations linked to immune regulation, especially in rare syndromic forms like PAPA (Pyogenic arthritis, Pyoderma gangrenosum, Acne) or PASH (Pyoderma gangrenosum, Acne, Hidradenitis Suppurativa). 

Key Points: 

• Being diagnosed with PG is not your fault, and nothing you did caused it. 
• PG is not an infection, and it is not contagious.