[Dapsone efficacy in lupus miliaris disseminatus faciei: two cases]

Lupus miliaris disseminatum faciei (LMDF) is a rare, chronic and benign facial dermatosis that is regarded as an enigmatic diagnostic and therapeutic entity with spontaneous regression in 2 to 4 years leaving pock-like scars.

We present two cases of LMDF: the first concerns a 46-year-old woman who 6 months earlier presented a papular and pustular eruption on her face leaving small pitted scars. The inefficacy of treatment with cyclines, metronidazole and crotamiton as well as the clinical and histological examination results allowed a diagnosis of lupus miliaris disseminatus faciei to be made. The patient was placed on dapsone 100mg per day, which led to a remarkable improvement in the second week, but with depressed scars. The second case concerned an 18-year-old man who for 3 months had been presenting red-brown papules of the face that were resistant to cyclines and to topical retinoids and caused scarring. This clinical aspect, consolidated by the histological result, allowed the diagnosis of LMDF to be made. Administration of dapsone 100mg per day resulted in improvement from the first month, although there were residual cupuliform scars.

Dapsone appears to be effective in the management of this disease, as illustrated in our two case reports. However, further studies are needed to confirm these results.