Localized morphoea preceded by a pigmented purpuric dermatosis

Localized morphoea uncommonly occurs in a linear distribution and may present following trauma, although most cases are idiopathic. Pigmented purpuric dermatoses such as lichen aureus may also rarely occur in a linear distribution and have been associated with trauma. A middle-aged man is described who initially presented with lesions typical of lichen aureus in a linear distribution at a site exposed to chronic low-grade trauma. This eruption was transient and clinically underwent spontaneous complete resolution. Several months later he developed localized morphoea in an identical distribution. To our knowledge this is the first reported case of a pigmented purpuric dermatosis, presumably precipitated by trauma, evolving into linear morphoea.