Dermatitis Artefacta - Symptom, Treatment and cause of Dermatitis Artefacta

DESCRIPTION: A rash that is deliberately self-inflicted to attractattention or obtain special treatment.

CAUSE: Patients may be disturbed psychiatrically, prisoners, deprived ofaffection or attention, senile or confused. They may use heat, sharpinstruments, sandpaper, chemicals or their fingernails to create therash. Women are five times more likely to have the condition than men.

SYMPTOMS: The rash can be extraordinarily varied in its form, and quitebizarre in its presentation. It usually does not respond to treatment,and occurs on unusual parts of the body.

INVESTIGATIONS: No tests prove any cause for the rash.

TREATMENT: Psychiatric counselling and medication, and dressings thatcannot be easily removed by the patient. Plaster casts may occasionallybe necessary to stop a patient constantly picking at an ulcer that willnot heal.

COMPLICATIONS: The rash may become infected or gangrenous.

PROGNOSIS: If effective psychiatric care given, treatment is usuallysuccessful.