[Lichen nitidus in children. Study of 17 cases]

Seventeen children with clinical and histological diagnosis at lichen nitidus are reported. An incidence of one case for every 882 pediatric dermatology patients was found. LN predominated in males in a 3:1 relation. The lesions usually first appeared during infancy as grouped skin colored micropapules with shiny surface. The trunk and upper limbs were the most frequently affected body segments. The histological picture was diagnostic showing a local ganulomatous infiltrate in the papillary dermis in between two rate pages and in close contact with the epidermis. No effective treatment is known. The lesions spontaneously disappeared in an average time of 18 months.