Lichen Nitidus Actinicus

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

“…Such cases are reported to improve with sun protection and worsen upon sun re-exposure. 1,[4][5][6][7][8] Our patients' facial lesions have striking clinical similarity to reported cases of ALN, with similar hypopigmentation, but without a correlation to sun exposure. 6 A distinct feature of the hypopigmentation seen in this patient series is the pinpoint hypopigmented papules best appreciated at the periphery of the involved areas.…”

“…The reported patients have been darker skinned populations, both adults and children, with lesions predominantly distributed on sun-exposed areas such as the upper chest and forearms. [4][5][6][7][8] ALN consists of pinhead-sized hypopigmented lichenoid papules with histologic features similar to LN, with a circumscribed lymphohistiocytic infiltrate hugging the dermal/ epidermal junction. Such cases are reported to improve with sun protection and worsen upon sun re-exposure.…”

“…9 The reported patients with ALN have responded inconsistently to sun protection, topical corticosteroids, topical calcineurin inhibitors, and topical retinoids. [4][5][6] Most authors note that patients will have spontaneous clearing of typical LN over a period of several months to years. 1,2,10,11 Follow-up was incomplete for most of our patients, limiting any comment on treatment outcomes or proposed optimal management.…”

Photosensitive spongiotic/lichenoid eruption of micropapules and plaques: A morphologically distinct entity

“…Some workers found changes resembling lichen nitidus and this has led to their designating the condition actinic lichen nitidus or lichen nitidus actinicus. [3][4][5] In other studies, biopsies were reported to show spongiotic and lichenoid change. [1,[3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10] We found predominantly three patterns: spongiotic (43.7%), lichenoid (22.5%), psoriasiform (18.7%) and we also noted perivascular pattern in 4 (5%) specimens.…”

Facial actinic lichen nitidus in a geriatric Tunisian female

“…It was first reported in India in 1978 by Bedi, who described 25 patients with hypopigmented pinpoint papules in sun-exposed areas and named the entity a summertime actinic lichenoid eruption [5]. The term of ALN was proposed in 1991 by Kanwar et al, who described six children with this clinical presentation [6].…”