Persistent acantholytic dermatosis related to actinic damage

Abstract

Ten male patients aged 38-63 years are presented, in whom a chronic, itchy, papular eruption developed on the upper trunk. Histology showed the characteristic features of Darier's disease. All the patients had clinical evidence of considerable solar damage and skin malignancies were frequently present. The condition is thought to represent a distinct entity which has been called persistent acantholytic dermatosis. The relationship between this condition, transient acantholytic dermatosis and actinic keratoses with Darier-like histology is discussed.