Acquired brachial cutaneous dyschromatosis

Dermatol Online J. 2011 Oct 15;17(10):16.

Abstract

Acquired brachial cutaneous dyschromatosis (ABCD) is a newly described disorder of pigmentary change that occurs on the dorsal aspects of the forearms in post-menopausal women. We report a case of a 62-year-old woman who developed an asymptomatic, reticulated, gray-brown eruption on the dorsal aspects of the forearms of gradual onset that is clinically and histopathologically consistent with ABCD. Whereas the original report found an association between hypertension and/or the use of anti-hypertensive medications in the original cohort, we propose that this entity may, in fact, be associated more closely with cumulative sun damage and may be related to such acquired disorders of the skin as poikiloderma of Civatte. Treatment of these lesions may prove to be a challenge, with an emphasis on rigorous sun protection and adjunctive measures with depigmentating agents, chemical peels, and lasers.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / adverse effects
  • Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / therapeutic use
  • Antihypertensive Agents / adverse effects
  • Antihypertensive Agents / therapeutic use
  • Female
  • Forearm
  • Humans
  • Hypertension / complications
  • Hypertension / drug therapy
  • Middle Aged
  • Photosensitivity Disorders / diagnosis*
  • Photosensitivity Disorders / pathology
  • Pigmentation Disorders / diagnosis*
  • Pigmentation Disorders / etiology
  • Pigmentation Disorders / pathology
  • Postmenopause
  • Skin Pigmentation
  • Sunlight / adverse effects
  • Telangiectasis / diagnosis*
  • Telangiectasis / etiology
  • Telangiectasis / pathology

Substances

  • Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors
  • Antihypertensive Agents