Dermatitis artefacta: A diagnostic dilemma

Area of Science:

• Psychodermatology
• Psychological Medicine

Background:

• Dermatitis artefacta (DA) is a rare factitious disorder characterized by self-inflicted skin lesions.
• Patients engage in self-harm to fulfill psychological needs, often presenting with diverse dermatological manifestations.

Observation:

• A case of dermatitis artefacta was initially misdiagnosed as pemphigus, highlighting diagnostic challenges.
• The patient presented with self-inflicted cutaneous lesions requiring careful evaluation.

Findings:

• Delayed recognition of dermatitis artefacta led to disease progression.
• The case study illustrates the potential for severe outcomes, including scarring alopecia, if DA is not promptly identified and managed.

Implications:

• Emphasizes the critical need for timely and accurate diagnosis of dermatitis artefacta in clinical practice.
• Highlights the importance of a multidisciplinary approach for managing psychodermatological conditions to prevent long-term sequelae.