The Phenomenon of "Black Dermographism"

Abstract

four hours after onset of symptoms. The mortality rate in this group was 3 per cent, and, if the 2 patients who died following cholecystectomy through an incision originally intended for an appendectomy are excluded, the mortality rate was zero. Of the patients coming to the hospital one to three days after onset the mortality rate was 6 per cent, and of those coming more than three days, who formed more than half the series, the From the

Black Dermographism

“…In late stages, there is often a hyperpigmented epidermis with dermal melanophages. 2 As previously reported, minocycline and doxycycline are often effective in PP, 3 as in our patients.…”

“…This physical abrasion theory is proven by detection of metal particles by electron microscopy of the blackened skin. 2,3 Black dermographism is easily demonstrated on anyone's skin prepared with hard powder. Normally, the black line remains until it is washed off with soap and water.…”

A Chemical-Medical Mystery: Gold Jewelry and Black Marks on Skin

“…Fine powders of such compounds as zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, calcium carbonate, and iron(III) oxide are frequently used in cosmetic powders, makeup formulations, and skin medications such as calamine lotion and powders. Even at very low rates of application, these will cause the abrasion of gold (5). The value on the mineral hardness scale for titanium dioxide and zinc oxide is 5.5, indicating that they are harder than platinum (hardness 4) and gold or silver (2.5).…”

Black dermographism: An uncommon cause of skin discoloration

“…[ 3 ] Urbach and Pillsbury stated that pigmentation of BD could be demonstrated over skin, paper, cloth, or wood with certain inorganic powders. [ 4 ] There are two mechanisms suggested for formation of BD. The physical mechanism states that metals in the presence of certain powders which are hard in nature, abrade the metals, and deposit the metal particles over the skin.…”

“…We believe in our patient when her wet work was over, stratum corneum of hyperkeratotic plantar skin of her toes dried off, and a similar mechanism might have come into play. [ 4 ] Another mechanism suggests the role of chemicals from body sweat which react with salts of jewelry metals. Rapson demonstrated that body sweat which contains sulfur containing amino acids such as L-cysteine, glutathione, and D-penicillamine react with the gold, producing black deposits.…”