Two cases of factitial panniculitis induced by electroacupuncture

Factitial panniculitis can be produced by mechanical, physical, or chemical means. It often causes an unusual clinical and histological feature that defies diagnosis until self-inoculation or mechanical trauma is suspected and proved. Acupuncture has been used in East Asia for centuries as a method of treatment for various conditions, especially for pain relief, and is known to be a relatively safe system. The needles are often manipulated by hand once they are placed at the acupuncture points. Electroacupuncture, the application of pulsating electrical current to acupuncture needles, was developed in China as an extension of hand manipulation, and produces continuous and stronger stimulation; however, although this may provide more effective treatment, it may also provoke more mechanical trauma. We report two cases of factitial panniculitis in two young women, who presented with multiple subcutaneous nodules along the electroacupuncture sites.