Pigmented contact dermatitis for cosmetics.

The article presents information on a case of pigmented contact dermatitis from cosmetics. A fifty-six year old woman presented with reticulate pigmented macules on the outer forearms, which had appeared one year previously, with no preceding eczema and were moderately pruritic. She gave a history of daily application of various cosmetic creams containing perfume, but there was no previous history of atopy or drug treatment. Histologic examination showed basal liquefactive degeneration and melanophages in the upper dermis, spongiosis was absent. Patch testing showed a positive reaction to fragrance mix. By avoiding contact with her cosmetics lesions cleared within one month.