Photo Rounds

Chronic papules on the back and extremities

Author and Disclosure Information

 

References

A 45-year-old Caucasian woman presented with pruritic erythematous scaling eruptions on her back and lower extremities. The patient said these skin lesions, which she has had since childhood, become worse in the summer. Additionally, her nails were fragile and often cracked. Her father and son had similar skin lesions.

On skin examination, we saw erythematous hyperkeratotic confluent papules and plaques on her back, chest, thighs, and lower legs. Multiple 3- to 5-mm keratotic papules were noted on the dorsa of her hands bilaterally. Fingernail examination revealed longitudinal lines with notching at the distal edges (Figures 1 and 2). Examination of other systems was unremarkable.

FIGURE 1
Papules on the back...

The patient has multiple hyperkeratotic papules on her back. Note the scratch marks on the upper back.

FIGURE 2
...and the thighs

The same patient has large hyperkeratotic plaques on the thighs.

What is your diagnosis?
Are any diagnostic tests Necessary to confirm it?

Pages

Recommended Reading

Back from the Peace Corps— with skin lesions from South America
MDedge Family Medicine
Caribbean itch
MDedge Family Medicine
Does treatment of acne with Retin A and tetracycline cause adverse effects?
MDedge Family Medicine
A red rash on the face
MDedge Family Medicine
Clear choices in managing epidermal tinea infections
MDedge Family Medicine
New rash on the right hand and neck
MDedge Family Medicine
Bald spots on a young girl
MDedge Family Medicine
Low-dose doxycycline moderately effective for acne
MDedge Family Medicine
Red clover extracts not effective for hot flushes
MDedge Family Medicine
What is the best method of diagnosing onychomycosis?
MDedge Family Medicine