Ashy dermatosisAshy dermatosis, also called erythema dyschromicum perstans , is a pigment disorder that causes dark, blue-gray patches to appear on the skin. Ashy means ashen, which is the color of the patches. Sometimes the patches begin with a red border, but that is not always the case. Ashy dermatosis mainly occurs in darker skin types. Redness is less visible on darker skin types.
The patches resemble another skin condition called lichen planus; darker patches can also develop in this type. The risk of red patches developing into pigmented spots is greatest in people with darker skin types. This phenomenon is also called post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation .
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| ashy dermatosis |
ashy dermatosis |
WHAT IS THE CAUSE OF ASHY DERMATOSIS?The cause is unknown. Some believe that ashy dermatosis is a darker variant of lichen planus (lichen planus pigmentosus). However, the cause of lichen planus is also unknown. Contact allergies have also been suggested, but this is only found in a small percentage of patients.HOW IS ASHY DERMATOSIS TREATED?Treatment is difficult. It's a rare condition, and little is known about treatment options.
Treatment focuses primarily on halting the spread. This can be done with topical ointments (corticosteroids). Sometimes tablets, such as Lamprene, are recommended. These treatments focus on inhibiting inflammation, which is only effective if the condition is still active.
Once no new spots develop, the patient waits and hopes for the dark discoloration to gradually disappear. Active bleaching with bleaching creams and lasers is not very successful and can even worsen the condition.WHAT ARE THE OUTLOOK?The pigment spots that develop are very persistent. Although the spread can often be stopped quickly, a noticeable color difference often persists even after many years. |
