Giant variant of acquired perforating dermatosis in a patient with diabetes mellitus

Abstract

Perforating dermatoses are a group of diseases characterized by transepidermal elimination of dermal components such as collagen, elastin and fibrin. Perforating dermatoses primarily include four main forms: Reactive perforating collagenosis, elastosis perforans serpiginosa, perforating folliculitis and acquired perforating dermatosis. There is limited data about perforating dermatoses in the literature. Because of their rare appearance, they can be easily misdiagnosed. Acquired perforating dermatosis is a systemic disease such as diabetes and chronic renal failure; and it should be considered in case of pruritic papulonodules and giant plaques with central crater in a patient. In addition to the treatment of underlying disease in the first stage; narrow band ultraviolet B (nbUVB) is evaluated to be effective in these cases. Based on its rare occasions, we submit a giant variant of acquired perforating dermatosis with a collagen fiber predominant elimination pattern, which is treated with nbUVB.