Erythroderma can be life-threatening, primarily because of its metabolic burden and complications. It is mandatory to establish its etiopathology in order to facilitate precise and definitive management. This disorder may be the morphologic presentation of a variety of cutaneous and systemic diseases. Detailed history and thorough work-up is therefore essential. Management of erythroderma involves multi-disciplines with progress monitoring especially on signs and symptoms suggestive of acute skin failure induced complications. Early diagnosis and referral of erythroderma to centres with dermatological services is crucial and will directly affect the outcome of the patients.
Dermatitis, Exfoliative

INTRODUCTION: Exfoliative dermatitis is a potentially life- threatening inflammatory reaction that poses a significant risk for morbidity and mortality. Several underlying etiologies of this dermatologic condition include pre-existing dermatoses, drugs and malignancy. Although it is a common disease entity, local studies on exfoliative dermatitis published in literature are very limited. OBJECTIVE: The primary objective of this study is to determine the epidemiological profile of patients with exfoliative dermatitis diagnosed at University of Santo Tomas Hospital Dermatology department from January 2008 to December 2012. METHODS: Inpatient and outpatient clinical records of patients diagnosed and treated as exfoliative dermatitis were retrieved. The prevalence, clinical presentation, history of previous dermatoses or use of any drugs/topical medications, family history and accompanying systemic symptoms were reviewed and analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 67 patients were included in this retrospective study. The prevalence among patients with exfoliative dermatitis in this study was computed at 1 per 1000 dermatologic patients. The highest number of cases belonged to the group aged seventy-one to seventy-nine (25.4%) with a mean age of 56.62 years. There was a male predilection (65.7%). Clinical presentation of patients included pruritus, generalized scaling and erythema, accompanied by bipedal edema (41.8%), chills (22.4%), fever (T ≥ 38 °C), lymphadenopathies (6%) and joint pains (4.5%). Several etiologic factors of exfoliative dermatitis recorded were: pre-existing dermatosis (67.2%), idiopathic or undetermined causes (19.4%), drug-induced (10.4%) and malignancy (3%). CONCLUSION: Exfoliative dermatitis is a condition more commonly found in the older age group. Pre-existing dermatoses, drugs and malignancy are etiologic factors. The most common pre-existing dermatosis causing exfoliative dermatitis in this study is psoriasis while the most implicated drug is allopurinol.
Dermatitis, Exfoliative

No abstract available.
Dermatitis, Exfoliative ; Phototherapy ; Psoriasis

Psoriasis vulgaris is one of the most common skin diseases in the world, which is recognized as an autoimmune disease that is caused by genetic and environmental factors. Plaque, guttate, pustular form, and psoriatic erythroderma are known as classical feature of psoriasis with tendency as generalized or sporadic appearance. There are some cases of uncommon forms in the shape and distribution, as nevoid and linear psoriasis. Linear psoriasis is a rare entity and thought as a variant of psoriasis, but its existence is still in debate. Herein, we report an interesting case of 19-year old Korean man with psoriasis, occurring on the right arm, following the line of Blaschko in a linear form.
Arm ; Autoimmune Diseases ; Dermatitis, Exfoliative ; Psoriasis ; Skin Diseases

Exfoliative dermatitis is caused by various etiologic factors including preceding dermatosis, drug-use, malignancy-related reasons and idiopathies. We present an exfoliative dermatitis caused by topical application of the herbal extract, Saururus chinesis baill. Saururus chinesis bail has been used traditionally as a folk remedy for various kinds of dermatoses in Korea. Therefore, the public should be warned of indiscreetly-used, natural, but not purified, herbal products.
Dermatitis, Exfoliative* ; Korea ; Medicine, Traditional ; Saururaceae* ; Skin Diseases

The retinoid Ro 1Q-9359 (Etretinate) is a synthetic derivative of vitamin A acid. It is potent and specific dermatotherapeutic drug used in various keratinizing disorders. Etretinate is today one of the best single oral treatment of severe psoriasis, particuhrly pustular psoriasis and psoriatic erythroderma. We present a case of generalized pustular psoriasis in 12-year-old male which was treated successfully with etretinate. The laboratory examinations revealed no aberrations which could be attributed to the therapy.
Acitretin ; Child* ; Dermatitis, Exfoliative ; Etretinate ; Humans ; Male ; Psoriasis* ; Tretinoin

Erythroderma is an unusual cutaneous finding associated with dermatomyositis. There are only five cases of erythrodermic dermatomyositis reported in the English literature. We treated a case of erythrodermic dermatomyositis associated with a Bormann type 1 gastric cancer. The patient had a generalized, erythematous scaly eruption consistent with erythroderma and Gottron's papules as well as a heliotrope rash; these are the hallmark skin manifestations of dermatomyositis.
Dermatitis, Exfoliative ; Dermatomyositis ; Humans ; Skin Manifestations ; Stomach Neoplasms

Papuloerythroderma of Ofuji is a rare, distinctive clinical entity characterized by a widespread pruritic eruption of coalescence of flat-topped erythematous papules producing an erythroderma with sparing of the skin folds (the 'deck-chair' sign). Other common features of papuloerythroderma are blood eosinophilia, lymphopenia, a raised serum IgE and a nonspecific or eczematous-like histopathologic feature. Its etiology has been reported as variable, and the condition is thus considered as a pattern of cutaneous expression induced by a range of pathological process for systemic disease. We experienced a 71-year-old male patient with a 4-month history of a generalized pruritic eruption which clinical features were compatible with papuloerythroderma of Ofuji. Treatment with systemic steroid resulted in marked improvement.
Aged ; Dermatitis, Exfoliative ; Eosinophilia ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E ; Lymphopenia ; Male ; Skin

Papuloerythroderma of Ofuji is a rare type of erythroderma of the elderly and consists of flat-topped erythematous papules that coalesce, forming diffuse sheets that characteristically spare skin folds (so called 'deck-chair' sign). The etiopathogenesis of the disease remains unknown, but a number of cases have demonstrated the connection of this disorder with malignancy, mainly cutaneous T cell lymphoma. We report a case of papuloerythroderma of Ofuji unassociated with underlying malignancy, with the biopsy specimen showing nonspecific eczematous findings. There are cases of papuloerythroderma of Ofuji associated with malignancy, and one needs to be mindful of such in examinations.
Aged ; Biopsy ; Dermatitis, Exfoliative ; Humans ; Lymphoma, T-Cell, Cutaneous ; Skin

Exfoliative dermatitis is characterized by a universal or very extensive obstinate scaling and itching erythroderma. Although the clinical picture is similar in most patients, there are many etiologic factors in exfoliative dermatitis. We report a case of exfoliative dermatitis developed in a 22-year-old male patient who had been taking oral minocycline (100 mg twice daily) for 5 weeks for acne.
Acne Vulgaris ; Dermatitis, Exfoliative* ; Humans ; Male ; Minocycline* ; Pruritus ; Young Adult