Carpet beetle dermatitis mimicking bullous impetigo
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Updated: Nov 28, 2025

Granulocyte-dependent Autoantibody-induced Skin Blistering
Published on: October 12, 2012
Megan E Gumina1, Albert C Yan1
1Section of Dermatology, Division of General Pediatrics, Departments of Pediatrics and Dermatology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
Abstract:
A 13-year-old female patient presented with a 3-month history of recurrent blisters, which ruptured into multiple superficial erosions with overlying crust located on the face, neck, and shoulder. Treatment for presumed bullous impetigo showed no benefit. Samples collected from the patient's home revealed the presence of numerous carpet beetles in a wool rug. Carpet beetle dermatitis resembles papular urticaria but may occasionally present as skin lesions resembling bullous impetigo.
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