Facial hypopigmentation in skin of color: An atypical presentation of lichen nitidus.

Lichen nitidus is a benign skin condition of unknown etiology that is classically described on the trunk, extremities, and genitalia as pinpoint flat-topped papules. In dark-skinned persons, the lesions may appear shiny or even hypopigmented. Lichen nitidus is less often described on the face. We describe a series of pediatric patients with skin of color who presented with the chief complaint of facial skin lightening and had associated clinical findings consistent with lichen nitidus.

An unusual variant of lichen nitidus: Generalized follicular spinous with perifollicular granulomas.

Several unusual variants of lichen nitidus are described in the literature. Spinous follicular lichen nitidus with perifollicular granulomas is one such variant characterized by generalized follicular as well as nonfollicular keratotic papules, which show perifollicular granulomas on histopathology as well as a lichenoid granulomatous tissue reaction typical of lichen nitidus. Owing to its atypical clinical and histopathologic manifestations, it raises several clinical possibilities and can be a diagnostic challenge. We report this rare variant of lichen nitidus in a 19-year-old female, and discuss its clinical and histopathological differential diagnosis.

Pediatric lichen nitidus: A single-center experience.

OBJECTIVE: Lichen nitidus (LN) is an uncommon inflammatory skin eruption. The present study aims to describe a case series of children with LN seen at a tertiary-care health center. METHODS: Retrospective study of 17 children with biopsy-proven LN between January 2007 and March 2017. Data related with epidemiologic, clinical, and histopathologic characteristics were recorded. RESULTS: The mean age for the onset of LN was 9 years (range: 5-17 years), and the mean duration of the skin lesions was 13 months (range: 1-48 months). Fifteen were boys (88.2%). Seven children had a generalized form of LN (41.1%) and of these, two children had severe pruritus (11.8%). Seven children had a history of co-morbid skin conditions (41.1%), including lichen planus in one patient (5.9%), lichen striatus in one patient (5.9%), psoriasis and longitudinal ridges in the nails in one patient (5.9%), and cutaneous features of atopic skin in four patients (23.5%). All of the reviewed patients had lymphohistiocytic infiltration in the dermis and basal vacuolar degeneration. Multinucleated giant cells were present in 11 (64.7%). CONCLUSION: This case series found LN in a generalized form as well as other concurrent dermatologic conditions in nearly half of those reported. The boy predominance was also noteworthy.

[Lichen nitidus and lichen striatus]. / Lichen nitidus und Lichen striatus.

Lichen nitidus is a rare, chronic dermatosis which occurs more often in children than in adults. It presents with tiny, monomorphous, lichenoid, mostly asymptomatic papules in regional or disseminated distribution which show a pathognomonic histological pattern. The pathogenesis is unclear; however, immunologic phenomena and genetic factors are under discussion. In rare cases, an association with other dermatoses and systemic diseases has been described. Moreover, medical treatments have been incriminated as triggers. Considering the self-limited course in mostly young patients, treatment must be thoroughly weighed. Possible therapeutic options include topical corticosteroids and calcineurin inhibitors as well as oral antihistamines, corticosteroids and narrow-band ultraviolet B phototherapy. Lichen striatus is an acquired, usually asymptomatic dermatosis occurring mostly in preschool children. The characteristic feature is the arrangement of small, flat, light red- to skin-colored papules along the lines of Blaschko. Therefore, a postzygotic mutation of epidermal progenitor cells induced to express new surface antigens by trigger factors as infections, vaccinations or trauma with consecutive immune reaction is assumed. Nail involvement of the affected limb can rarely occur. Lichen striatus usually heals without scarring within several months, so that therapies with severe side effects are obsolete. Mild topical corticosteroids or calcineurin inhibitors may be used, especially if patients exceptionally suffer from pruritus. A postinflammatory hypopigmentation can persist for months to years.

Lichen Nitidus of the Eyelids.

Lichen nitidus is a rare, idiopathic inflammatory condition that typically presents as small, flat-topped papules on the chest, abdomen, and upper extremities. The lesions are benign and often asymptomatic and self-resolve. The pediatric population is most often affected. The authors report a case of lichen nitidus presenting as isolated bilateral eyelid lesions increasing in number for several years. Eventual excision and antibiotic/steroid ointment prompted regression.

Perforating lichen nitidus.

Transepidermal elimination and/or perforation of the epidermis is seen in a variety of conditions but has only rarely been reported in association with lichen nitidus. We describe a case of lichen nitidus with the unique finding of epidermal perforation, a feature that made the usual straightforward diagnosis of lichen nitidus much more difficult.

Lichen nitidus presenting with nail changes--case report and review of the literature.

Lichen nitidus of the nail is rare and can precede the onset of skin lesions. Delayed diagnosis is common. We present an unusual case of lichen nitidus-associated nail changes that preceded the onset of skin lesions in a 4-year-old Indian girl. We also conduct a review of six other cases of lichen nitidus with nail involvement from the English-language literature. Clues to the diagnosis of lichen nitidus include violaceous or pigmentary changes of the nail fold and subtle lichenoid papules on the affected digits. Lichen nitidus of the nails appears to be less severe than nail changes of lichen planus and is generally self-limiting. Understanding the natural history of lichen nitidus of the nails will help physicians better counsel patients and their families.

Lichen nitidus with involvement of the palms.

A 14-year-old girl presented with hyperkeratotic, pitted, skin-colored papules on a slightly erythematous surface on her palms and erythematous and squamous papules around her ankles. She was clinically and histopathologically diagnosed with lichen nitidus, which is observed rarely on the palms.

Lichenoid pseudovesicular papular eruption on nose: A papular facial dermatosis probably related to actinic lichen nitidus or micropapular polymorphous light eruption.

BACKGROUND: Facial papules are a feature of several clinical conditions and may present both diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. AIM: To describe a grouped papular eruption on the nose and adjoining cheeks that has not been well characterized previously. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A series of consecutive patients with a papular eruption predominantly involving nose and cheeks were evaluated, treated and followed up prospectively at tertiary care centers. Demographic details, clinical features, histopathology and response to treatment were recorded. RESULTS: There were five men and six women (mean age 29.9 ± 6.9 years) who had disease for a mean duration of 17.3 ± 11.1 months. All patients presented with a predominantly asymptomatic eruption of monomorphic, pseudovesicular, grouped, skin colored to slightly erythematous papules prominently involving the tip of nose, nasal alae, philtrum and the adjoining cheeks. A total of 15 biopsies from 11 patients were analyzed and the predominant finding was a dense, focal lymphoid infiltrate restricted to the upper dermis with basal cell damage and atrophy of the overlying epidermis. The eruption ran a chronic course from several months to years. LIMITATIONS: Direct immunofluorescence could not be performed except in one case. Immunohistochemical stains for CD4 and CD8 could not be done owing to nonavailability. Phototesting was undertaken in one patient only. CONCLUSION: Small grouped papules on the nose and adjoining skin with a lichenoid histopathology appear to represent a distinct clinicopathological entity. It may be related to actinic lichen nitidus/micropapular variant of polymorphous light eruption.

Actinic lichen nitidus.

Actinic lichen nitidus is a unique photoinduced lichenoid eruption that displays histologic features of classic lichen nitidus, with some clinical similarity. It is seen most commonly in deeply pigmented patients (Fitzpatrick skin types V and VI), in photodistributed areas, and during the summer months. Sun avoidance and topical corticosteroids are the mainstay of therapy; however, seasonal recurrences are common. Actinic lichen nitidus has unique properties that differentiate it from classic lichen nitidus. Confusion exists in the literature regarding the nomenclature of this entity, and it appears to be an underrecognized disease in the United States.

Generalized purpuric lichen nitidus. Report of a case and review of the literature.

Generalized purpuric lichen nitidus is an extremely rare form of lichen nitidus. We present the third documented case of this uncommon dermatosis, which was treated successfully with orally administered cyclosporine. During a 12-month follow-up after the cessation of the drug, no recurrence was noticed.