Hydroa vacciniforme: an unusual clinical manifestation

Hydroa vacciniforme is a rare, chronic photodermatosis with onset in childhood that is characterized by recurrent vesiculation, necrosis, and vacciniform scarring limited to sun-exposed skin. We report a case of nonvesicular hydroa vacciniforme in which only extensive crusting associated with hypertrophic scarring on sun-exposed skin was present. Multiple exposures to UVA, however, reproduced lesions with the typical clinical and histologic features of hydroa vacciniforme. Results of blood, urine, and fecal porphyrin studies were normal.