What is Blaschkitis?

Blaschkitis is an acquired inflammatory dermatitis that some consider an adult variant of lichen striatus. In 1990, Grosshans proposed that blaschkitis was distinct from lichen striatus, identifying several criteria by which the 2 differ, including typical patient age, distribution, time course, and histopathology.

What causes Blaschkitis?

Emotional stress, medications (such as certolizumab and metronidazole), trauma, and viral infections have been implicated as triggers for blaschkitis [1,11,12]. Blaschkitis has been reported to occur with features of other skin diseases such as lichen nitidus, lichen striatus, and lupus erythematosus [1,3,11].

How is lichen striatus treated?

No treatment is needed due to the self-limiting nature of the condition. If, however, a patient seeks treatment, emollients can be used, low-dose systemic corticosteroids, a short course of acitretin, as well as, topical steroids to treat the dryness or pruritus.

Does eczema only affect one side of the body?

It can affect any part of the body, although it does not usually affect the face or scalp. Credit: The first sign of discoid eczema is usually a group of small spots or bumps on the skin.

What causes lichen Striatus?

The cause of lichen striatus is unknown. Possibly genetic factors or environmental triggers have a role to play in its development. The eruption affects the lines of Blaschko, which are thought to be embryonic in origin. Over 50% of cases occur in children aged between 5 and 15 years.

Can Animals See blaschko lines?

The stripes are a type of genetic mosaicism. They do not correspond to nervous, muscular, or lymphatic systems. The lines can be observed in other animals such as cats and dogs. Alfred Blaschko is credited with the first demonstration of these lines in 1901.

Why do I only have eczema on the right side of my body?

Acquired blaschkoid dermatitis is unilateral — it only affects one side of the body. As its name would suggest, the skin lesions occur along Blaschko lines. The lesions may resolve spontaneously but they have a tendency to relapse over time, especially at times of stress.

Why do I have eczema on only one hand?

There may not be one single cause for hand eczema. It is often multifactorial, with genetic (constitutional); injury (irritant contact dermatitis), immune reactions (allergic contact dermatitis) and unknown factors playing a part.

Is lichen striatus hereditary?

Is lichen contagious?

Lichen sclerosus isn’t contagious and cannot be spread through sexual intercourse. Lichen sclerosus often occurs in postmenopausal women, but also in men and children. In women, lichen sclerosus usually involves the vulva.

What is the main cause of eczema?

Eczema (atopic dermatitis) is caused by a combination of immune system activation, genetics, environmental triggers and stress. Your immune system. If you have eczema, your immune system overreacts to small irritants or allergens. This overreaction can inflame your skin.

Is eczema genetically inherited?

While scientists are still learning more about the condition, evidence suggests there is a genetic predisposition and that eczema may be hereditary. Researchers have identified that mutations in KIF3A, FLG, and CARD11 genes are commonly associated with the development of eczema. Other factors can also cause eczema.

What do Blaschko’s lines mean in medical terms?

Blaschko’s lines (BL) represent a classic pattern of cutaneous mosaicism (two or more genetically different populations of cells existing side by side), occuring in a wide variety of congenital and acquired skin conditions.

What kind of skin is affected by Blaschko?

The body area affected may include the arms and legs, the chest and back, and the abdomen The skin condition may ‘come and go’ and each episode can last up to 2 weeks There are other skin conditions that also show up in patterns that reflect the lines of Blaschko. Pityriasis rosea is an example of one of the more common ones.

What kind of skin condition is acquired blaschkoid dermatitis?

Acquired Blaschkoid Dermatitis is an unusual and rare skin disorder that manifests only in adults. It leads to the formation of dry and itchy skin papules along the Blaschko lines. What are the other Names for this Condition?

When to use the term blaschkoid hypopigmentation?

If a distinct diagnosis cannot be made the terminology Blaschkoid hypopigmentation is sometimes used. Current evidence suggests that additional cutaneous features of hyperkeratosis (thickened skin) or vascular anomalies are more likely to indicate other organ involvement. How much the cutaneous features affect the patient