Fox-Fordyce disease.

Abstract

The clinical features of Fox-Fordyce disease constitute a distinct picture. The findings of a symmetric eruption of discrete, flesh-colored to pink papules oriented about the follicular openings with intervening normal skin and located in the axillae and about the external genitalia, the areolae, and the umbilicus, together with the overwhelming predominance in sexually active females and with the exquisite pruritus which accompanies it, distinguish this condition clearly. Difficulties arise only when secondary infection or sensitization, miliaria or lichenification occurs. The clinical features have been excellently reviewed by Goodman 1 and Chatellier. 2 By contrast, the etiologic and histopathologic picture in this condition is not well defined. The process was originally considered a form of localized neurodermatitis by the authors who described it. 3 However, Gougerot and co-workers * described a type without pruritus. Since the work of Schiefferdecker on the apocrine glands, most authors have