Prurigo pigmentosa from contact allergy to chrome in detergent

Abstract

Prurigo pigmentosa is a recurrent inflammatory dermatosis characterized by pruritic erythematous papules and reticulate hyperpigmentation that occurs most frequently in spring and summer. The etiology of prurigo pigmentosa remains unknown. Numerous authors have suggested that various contact allergens may be pathogenic or triggering factors, but nearly all attempts to identify an allergen have been unsuccessful. We report a case of prurigo pigmentosa induced by contact allergy to chrome in detergent, supporting the conclusion that contact allergens such as chrome may play a rôle in inducing prurigo pigmentosa.

Itch in Ethnic Populations

“…It was also suggested earlier that a tendency of the Asian skin to yield post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation was important in the recognition of prurigo pigmentosa (35) and this was further supported when other Asian patients from Taiwan (36) and Korea (37) were reported subsequently. However, new cases have been increasingly reported from many parts of the world involving different races over the past decade.…”

Two cases of prurigo pigmentosa in atopic patients

“…thought that this disease arose from contact allergic reactions to chemicals such as para‐amino compounds. Others proposed that the disease was related to contact with trichlorophenol 3 or chromium, 4,5 and also to the ingestion of bismuth‐subsalicylate 6 . In addition to these exogenous factors, some cases were thought to be related with ketosis caused by diabetes mellitus, fasting or dieting to lose weight 7 .…”

Prurigo Pigmentosa Associated with an Atopic Diathesis in a 13‐Year‐Old Girl

“…Ours is the second reported instance of PP in a prepubescent girl, after that of Requena Caballero et al (3). Although PP has been rarely reported in prepubescent children, we think that it should be included in the same differential diagnosis as Darier disease, as both diseases localize on the trunk and share a seasonal preference of occurring in summer (4–6). The absence of mucous, nail, and flexural lesions in PP can help in the differential diagnosis.…”