Dermatologic findings in anorexia and bulimia nervosa of childhood and adolescence.

The cutaneous signs of anorexia nervosa (AN) and bulimia nervosa (BN) have been described previously in adult patients. For the first time, we present here dermatologic findings in children and adolescents suffering from eating disorders. Thirty consecutive young anorexic and bulimic inpatients (8 to 17 years of age, mean 15.1 years) underwent a standardized dermatologic examination. Patients were checked for abnormalities of the skin including atopic stigmata, dermographism, hair, nails, and oral cavity. Serum was obtained for hemoglobin, iron, zinc, GPT, thyroid, and sex-hormone levels. In 13 patients, the total serum IgE was determined, and a prick test was carried out with defined type I allergens. Findings in order of frequency included xerosis of the skin, white dermographism, diffuse hypertrichosis, acrocyanosis, scars, diffuse effluvium, artifacts, brittle nails, and onychophagia. Significant co-relations were found between the presence of hypertrichosis and the existence of amenorrhea or a body mass index of less than 16. In 22 patients a low T3 level was found. In summary, children and adolescents suffering from AN or BN show dermatologic features similar to those reported in older patients. Special findings in this age group are extensive lanugo hair and signs of autoaggressive behavior.

Genitoanocrural porokeratosis following chronic exposure to benzene.

Porokeratoses are disorders of epidermal keratinization, the aetiology of which remains to be elucidated. We present the uncommon case of a 70-year-old man with genitoanocrural porokeratotic lesions successfully treated by CO2 laser vaporization. The patient's occupational history and the late onset, site and multiplicity of the lesions suggest their induction by benzene, a known carcinogen.