Another aspect of contrived disease: "dermatitis simulata"

Area of Science:

• Dermatology
• Psychiatry

Background:

• Self-inflicted skin conditions are a recognized phenomenon.
• The specific presentation of simulating skin disease with innocuous substances was previously undescribed.

Observation:

• Three distinct cases are presented where individuals applied non-irritating substances to their skin.
• The application aimed to mimic the appearance of various skin diseases.

Findings:

• The authors propose the term "dermatitis simulata" for this behavior.
• This represents a previously unrecognized form of contrived dermatological disease.

Implications:

• Highlights the need for clinicians to consider simulated conditions in differential diagnoses.
• Suggests potential underlying psychological factors warranting further investigation.