ACRODERMATITIS ATROPHICANS CHRONICA

Abstract

Many names have been given to the disease considered in the present paper, which in the United States is most commonly referred to as acrodermatitis chronica atrophicans¹ but which when generalized also is called diffuse idiopathic atrophy of the skin. Other terms include "dermatitis atrophicans diffusa progressiva" (Oppenheim), dermatite chronique atrophiante (maladie de Pick-Herxheimer) and the older term érythromyélie (Pick). The disease is not to be confused with types of atrophoderma maculatum (atrophia maculosa et striata²) or macular atrophies, including forms of anetoderma,³ or vergetures, and striae distensae. The terms "idiopathic macular atrophy," "anetoderma maculosum" or "anetoderma erythematodes" of Jadassohn, "dermatitis atrophicans maculosa" and vergetures are all applied to discrete, macular, atrophic lesions which may be associated with acrodermatitis chronica atrophicans, occur entirely independent of the latter disease or arise secondarily from other dermatoses.