[Dissimulated dermatozoon delusion with severe skin artifacts]

A 37-year-old civil servant, who had been treated for 9 years for sycosis simplex, covered up the presence of his dermatozoon delusion, which had probably only developed in the course of time since the original diagnosis had been made. In a single examination performed when he was referred to our clinic, he admitted for the first time that he had been using sharp objects to dig out ingrown beard hair and mites. This practice had caused numerous sclerotic scars and ulcers on the facial skin. In our dermatological practice, this was an unusual finding in a patient with a dermatozoon delusion.