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Dermatitis Artefacta: A Retrospective Descriptive Study on 46 Patients
Eugenia Veronica Di Brizzi1, Gianluca Ficca2, Vincenzo Piccolo1
1Dermatology Unit, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Naples, Italy.
Dermatology Practical & Conceptual
|May 29, 2024
Summary
Dermatitis artefacta (DA) lesions are often excoriations and ulcers. Accurate diagnosis relies on lesion appearance, as psychiatric details were often missing in patient records.
Area of Science:
- Dermatology
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Self-induced dermatoses are skin lesions patients deny causing.
- Dermatitis artefacta (DA) is a specific type of self-induced dermatosis.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate epidemiological aspects of DA.
- Analyze lesion characteristics (location, shape, features).
- Assess psychiatric information availability in DA patient records.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective observational descriptive study.
- Included 46 patients with clinical or histological DA diagnosis and images.
- Data collected from January 2015 to March 2021.
Main Results:
- Most common lesions: erosions/excoriations (30.4%) and ulcers (28.3%).
- Other lesions included ecchymoses, vasculitis-like lesions, crusted plaques, scales, and erythema.
- 33% of records mentioned psychiatric disorders generally, without specific diagnoses.
Conclusions:
- Excoriations and ulcers are the primary dermatologic lesions in DA.
- Lesion shape and location are critical for correct DA diagnosis.
- Lack of specific psychiatric diagnoses in records is notable.
