Dermatitis Neglecta: A Case Series
Dermatitis neglecta (DN) is a dermatological condition which occurs due to a lack of adequate cleansing of the skin. In DN, sebum, sweat, and keratin, along with dirt and debris progressively accumulate in a localized area of skin, resulting in the formation of hyperpigmented patch or a verrucous pl...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
2025-01-01
|
| Series: | Clinical Dermatology Review |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/cdr.cdr_138_24 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| Summary: | Dermatitis neglecta (DN) is a dermatological condition which occurs due to a lack of adequate cleansing of the skin. In DN, sebum, sweat, and keratin, along with dirt and debris progressively accumulate in a localized area of skin, resulting in the formation of hyperpigmented patch or a verrucous plaque, which can be cleared by rubbing vigorously with soap and water, or alcohol-soaked gauze. The condition is often underdiagnosed or misdiagnosed. Here, we present a case series of DN. There were a total of 30 patients in our case series of DN, with 13 male and 17 female patients, M:F: 1:1.3. The mean age of the patients was 30 ± 15.08 years and the mean duration of lesions was 2.5 ± 1.22 months. All the patients in our case series were asymptomatic, and there was a history of inadequate cleansing of the affected area in all of them. Predisposing factors such as verruca vulgaris, hypertrophic scar at the surgical site, depression, and anxiety were present in one patient each. Three patients had more than one site being involved, in the remaining 27 patients who had lesions localized to one site, the anterior trunk was the most common site of involvement. Out of 30 patients in our case series of DN, 28 were outpatients, and 2 were inpatients referred from other departments. In 20 (66.7%) of our patients, the lesions cleared on rubbing with saline-soaked gauze, and in 10 (33.3%) patients, the lesions cleared with the use of soap and water. DN, if diagnosed correctly, can be easily treated with soap and water cleansing. |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 2542-551X 2542-5528 |