The family physician diagnosed Schamberg’s disease based on the hemosiderin deposits and a cayenne pepper appearance. Schamberg’s disease is a capillaritis characterized by extravasation of erythrocytes in the skin with marked hemosiderin deposition.
There is no known effective treatment for Schamberg's disease. Topical corticosteroids have been tried, but with little success. Patients can be reassured that the condition is harmless and is only a cosmetic concern. The patient was reassured by this information and did not want to try topical steroids.
Photos and text for Photo Rounds Friday courtesy of Richard P. Usatine, MD. This case was adapted from: Mayeaux EJ, Usatine R. Cutaneous vasculitis. In: Usatine R, Smith M, Mayeaux EJ, et al., eds. The Color Atlas of Family Medicine. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill; 2009:760-765.
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