Acquired relapsing self-healing Blaschko dermatitis

Abstract

We describe a 44-year-old woman who had a unilateral relapsing linear dermatosis for 12 years. The lesions consisted of erythematous, discrete and grouped papules and papulovesicles that were localized to the left side of the upper and lower limbs, chest, abdomen, and back. They were distributed along Blaschko's lines. There was also a diffuse erythematous scaly hyperkeratosis of both palms. The lesions healed spontaneously. Examination of biopsy specimens from the back and the left palm revealed acute and subacute spongiotic dermatitis, respectively. This dermatosis was first described by Grosshans and Marot in 1990 and termed "Blaschkite de l'adulte." Because the disease is acquired, relapsing, heals spontaneously, follows Blaschko's lines, and is characterized histopathologically by a spongiotic dermatitis, we propose the term "acquired relapsing self-healing Blaschko dermatitis."