A Case of Subcorneal Pustular Dermatosis Treated with Tacalcitol (1α,24‐Dihydroxyvitamin D₃)

Abstract

We report a case of subcorneal pustular dermatosis (SPD) treated with tacalcitol (1alpha,24-Dihydroxyvitamin D3) ointment. A 77-year-old male had had asymptomatic, superficial, grouped pustules in annular patterns with mild background erythema for six years which affected his axillae and bilateral groin. A diagnosis of SPD was made. Topical vitamin D3 (tacalcitol) was applied to the lesion of SPD and its clinical effectiveness was assessed. Within one month, symptoms in the lesion treated with tacalcitol ointment started subsiding, and eventually only erythema remained. After three months, the region treated with tacalcitol ointment showed no relapse. We conclude that tacalcitol ointment is effective for SPD in some case.

Acrodermatitis continua of Hallopeau on toes successfully treated with a two‐compound product containing calcipotriol and betamethasone dipropionate

“…In the absence of irritation, topical vitamin D is well tolerated and may be helpful in the treatment of other neutrophilic skin diseases such as erosive pustular dermatosis of the scalp (26) or subcorneal pustular dermatosis (27). Nevertheless, the different individual efficiency of any regimen must never be underestimated.…”

A case of subcorneal pustular dermatosis treated successfully with a combination of cyclosporin and prednisolone

“…Subcorneal pustular dermatosis (SPD) is a rare, chronic, benign and relapsing pustular eruption of unknown aetiology and pathogenesis 1 . Although many therapeutic agents have been proposed, few resistant or intolerant patients have been reported 1,3–9 …”

“…Dapsone (50–200 mg/day), the main agent in SPD, inhibits the cytotoxic effects of peripheral neutrophils and may, as sulphapyridines, cause life‐threatening side‐effects including methaemoglobinaemia and haemolytic anaemia 1 . Corticosteroids, tacalcitol, etretinate, PUVA, acitretin, mebhydroline, ketoconazole, colchicine, mizoribine, minocycline, vitamine E, niacin and, recently, infliximab have also been proposed 1,3–9 …”

“…1 Although many therapeutic agents have been proposed, few resistant or intolerant patients have been reported. 1,[3][4][5][6][7][8][9] A 50-year-old, otherwise healthy woman presented with a 1-month history of multiple, grouped, itchy, superficial and symmetrically distributed pustules in annular pattern with mild background erythema on her trunk, neck and limbs ( fig. 1), fever, and malaise.…”

“…1 Corticosteroids, tacalcitol, etretinate, PUVA, acitretin, mebhydroline, ketoconazole, colchicine, mizoribine, minocycline, vitamine E, niacin and, recently, infliximab have also been proposed. 1,[3][4][5][6][7][8][9] Cyclosporin inhibits the chemotactic activity of IL-8, which is responsible for the production of TNF-α . TNF-α is found to be elevated in the pustules and the serum of SPD patients.…”