Darier's disease misdiagnosed as severe seborrheic dermatitis

Abstract

Darier's disease is a rare autosomal disorder resulting in characteristic fi ndings of the skin, nails, and mucous membranes. Darier's disease is commonly misdiagnosed as seborrheic dermatitis or eczema. We present the case of a young adult active duty Air Force member with 5 years of skin complaints. The 23-year-old patient had been treated for seborrheic dermatitis and eczema with a variety of oral and topical treatments, which did not result in improvement of his symptoms. Upon referral to dermatology, the dermatologist noted skin, nail, and mucous membrane fi ndings consistent with Darier's disease. A skin biopsy histologically confi rmed the presence of Darier's disease and treatment was started. Although the course of the disease cannot be stopped, the patient's symptoms did reduce with the appropriate treatment. This case highlights the importance of revisiting the original diagnosis when conventional treatment fails to improve the disease course. © Association of Military Surgeons of the U.S. All rights reserved.