Acquired perforating dermatosis successfully treated with photodynamic therapy

Acquired perforating dermatosis is a rare perforating skin disorder characterized by intensely pruritic papules or nodules with central adherent plugs mainly observed on the lower extremities and transepidermal elimination of collagen bundles. Treatment of acquired perforating dermatosis is a matter of debate and conventional treatment options including topical and systemic retinoids, topical corticosteroids and keratolytics, ultraviolet B phototherapy, psoralen plus ultraviolet A (PUVA), allopurinol and cryosurgery show mixed results. Herein, we describe a 60-year-old woman with a diagnosis of acquired perforating dermatosis secondary to diabetes mellitus in whom we achieved excellent results with photodynamic treatment. As far as we are aware, this is the first case report of photodynamic treatment for acquired perforating dermatosis.