Benign papular acantholytic dermatosis

M. R. Heaphy, S. B. Tucker and R. K. Winkelmann

Seven male patients, aged 41 to 63, had benign papular acantholytic dermatosis. The patients complained of firm, intensely pruritic, 1- to 3-mm, reddish-brown or flesh-colored papules. The lesions were usually found on the upper part of the torso or on the neck. At least five of the seven patients reported that sunlight initiated or exacerbated the condition. The mean duration of the disorder exceeded two years. Histologically, the predominant lesion in all seven cases was acantholysis. Dyskeratosis was not a characteristic finding, being absent in five of the seven cases and minimally present in two. We will compare the features of benign papular acantholytic dermatosis with those of other papular acantholytic disorders.