Dermatitis Artefacta Workup

  • Author: John YM Koo, MD; Chief Editor: Dirk M Elston, MD   more...
 
Updated: Jan 25, 2012
 

Laboratory Studies

  • No specific laboratory blood tests are required for dermatitis artefacta.
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Imaging Studies

  • No imaging studies are required for dermatitis artefacta.
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Other Tests

  • No other general tests are required for dermatitis artefacta.
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Procedures

  • Skin biopsy is necessary for dermatitis artefacta.
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Histologic Findings

A skin biopsy of a representative dermatitis artefacta lesion may be performed to rule out any underlying pathology and, in some cases, to establish a definite diagnosis. The histologic findings in dermatitis artefacta are usually nonspecific and are often dependent on the mechanism of injury (eg, foreign body reaction with giant cells and noninfectious material for self-injection).

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Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

John YM Koo, MD  Vice Chair, Department of Dermatology, University of California San Francisco Medical Center; Professor, Clinical Dermatology, Department of Dermatology, University of California at San Francisco School of Medicine

John YM Koo, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, American Psychiatric Association, and National Psoriasis Foundation

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Patricia T Ting, MD, MSc  Resident Physician, Division of Dermatology and Cutaneous Sciences, Department of Medicine, University of Alberta Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Canada

Patricia T Ting, MD, MSc is a member of the following medical societies: Alberta Medical Association, Canadian Dermatology Association, and Canadian Medical Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

Jacek C Szepietowski, MD, PhD  Professor, Vice-Head, Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, Wroclaw Medical University; Director of the Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, Poland

Disclosure: Stiefel GSK Company Salary Employment; Orfagen Consulting fee Consulting; Maruho Consulting fee Consulting; Astellas Consulting fee Consulting; Abbott Consulting fee Consulting; Leo Pharma Consulting fee Consulting

David F Butler, MD  Professor of Dermatology, Texas A&M University College of Medicine; Chair, Department of Dermatology, Director, Dermatology Residency Training Program, Scott and White Clinic, Northside Clinic

David F Butler, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Dermatology, American Medical Association, American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, American Society for MOHS Surgery, Association of Military Dermatologists, and Phi Beta Kappa

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Edward F Chan, MD  Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine

Edward F Chan, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, American Society of Dermatopathology, and Society for Investigative Dermatology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Catherine M Quirk, MD  Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania

Catherine M Quirk, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha and American Academy of Dermatology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Dirk M Elston, MD  Director, Ackerman Academy of Dermatopathology, New York

Dirk M Elston, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

References

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  19. Koblenzer CS. Dermatitis artefacta. Clinical features and approaches to treatment. Am J Clin Dermatol. Jan-Feb 2000;1(1):47-55. [Medline].

 
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