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...

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Main Authors: Sneha Manjunath, Savitha A Somaiah, Nagesh Tumkur Subbarao
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
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author Sneha Manjunath
Savitha A Somaiah
Nagesh Tumkur Subbarao
author_facet Sneha Manjunath
Savitha A Somaiah
Nagesh Tumkur Subbarao
author_sort Sneha Manjunath
collection DOAJ
description 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.
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spelling doaj-art-3eeaffb009b94ca5a848a325e25ef61e2025-02-06T05:07:41ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsClinical Dermatology Review2542-551X2542-55282025-01-0191656810.4103/cdr.cdr_138_24Dermatitis Neglecta: A Case SeriesSneha ManjunathSavitha A SomaiahNagesh Tumkur SubbaraoDermatitis 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.https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/cdr.cdr_138_24dermatitis neglectainadequate cleansingsoap and water
spellingShingle Sneha Manjunath
Savitha A Somaiah
Nagesh Tumkur Subbarao
Dermatitis Neglecta: A Case Series
Clinical Dermatology Review
dermatitis neglecta
inadequate cleansing
soap and water
title Dermatitis Neglecta: A Case Series
title_full Dermatitis Neglecta: A Case Series
title_fullStr Dermatitis Neglecta: A Case Series
title_full_unstemmed Dermatitis Neglecta: A Case Series
title_short Dermatitis Neglecta: A Case Series
title_sort dermatitis neglecta a case series
topic dermatitis neglecta
inadequate cleansing
soap and water
url https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/cdr.cdr_138_24
work_keys_str_mv AT snehamanjunath dermatitisneglectaacaseseries
AT savithaasomaiah dermatitisneglectaacaseseries
AT nageshtumkursubbarao dermatitisneglectaacaseseries