“Devotional dermatoses”: A new nosologic entity?

Pitfall prayer marks: Recognition and appropriate treatment: A case report and review of literature

“…They can also occur in Buddhists who meditate for a long time in a cross-legged sitting position (ur Rehman & Asfour, 2010). Repeated kneeling in praying Christians may induce blisters below the knees (Goodheart, 2001) and many other religious or cultural practices may induce further cutaneous signs summarized elsewhere (Gupta & Thappa, 2015;Lilly & Kundu, 2012;Vashi, Patzelt, Wirya, Maymone, & Kundu, 2018). Notably, "stigmatists" such as Saint Francis of Assisi presenting (arguably self-inflicted) bleeding skin marks ("stigmata") corresponding to the crucifixion wounds are considered blessed servants of God in Christian Mysticism (Barankin, 2004;Cross, 2005).…”

“…However, another publication reported prayer marks in connection with a concomitant disease (e.g., anterior wall myocardial infarction) that we considered as mere, unrelated coincidence (Sharma et al, 2011). Treatment options include topical keratolytic agents (e.g., salicylic acid 10-20% three times per week for 4 weeks) or mechanical abrasion using a pumice stone or nail file (Monk & Lowenstein, 2014 (Goodheart, 2001) and many other religious or cultural practices may induce further cutaneous signs summarized elsewhere (Gupta & Thappa, 2015;Lilly & Kundu, 2012;Vashi, Patzelt, Wirya, Maymone, & Kundu, 2018). In our experience, prayer marks are usually not the main complaint seeking medical advice.…”

Cutaneous disease and religious practice: case of allergic contact dermatitis to tefillin and review of the literature

“…In the literature, several cases of skin disorders secondary to religious practice have been described 3–21 . These reactions include allergic contact dermatitis, 1,2,5–8 foreign body granuloma, 9 contact depigmentation, 10,11 hyperkeratotic lesions, 12–17 bullae, 18 friction hyermelanosis, 19 traction alopecia, 20,21 and dermatitis herpetiformis 18 Table 1. summarizes the different dermatoses reported in association with religious practice, organized by different religious faiths.…”

“…The patient was Moslem and while bowing during prayer, rubbed his head on a disc‐like prayer stone called a “mohr.” Biopsy revealed mucin deposition in the dermis. In a Roman Catholic woman, Goodheart 18 reported a case of blisters on both knees from repeated kneeling in church. He termed these “prayer blisters”, or “pew blisters”.…”

“…In one of the more unusual cases described, Goodheart 18 linked ingestion of the host (wafer) during Catholic communion to dermatitis herpetiformis. A 71‐year‐old woman who had been diagnosed with celiac sprue was placed on a gluten‐free diet, with a striking recovery.…”