Dermatitis artefacta

Abstract

Dermatitis artefacta (DA) is a factitious disorder in which dermatological signs and symptoms are the predominant feature. Skin lesions are very variable, depending on the methods they choose to use and the imagination of their perpetrators but there are some common characteristics. Its diagnosis is difficult, and it can only be made after excluding real physical illness, based on the morphology of the lesions and the patient's personality characteristics. The treatment is also complicated but it is important to identify the disorder in an early stage and to treat the underlying psychiatric disorders. We report the case of a child with dermatitis artefacta in the form of purpuric lesions. ©2011 Ediciones Mayo, S.A. All rights reserved.