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The ‘Dirty Neck’—a reticulate pigmentation in atopics
Author(s) -
COLVER G. B.,
MORTIMER P. S.,
MILLARD P. R.,
DAWBER R. P. R.,
RYAN T. J.
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
clinical and experimental dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.587
H-Index - 78
eISSN - 1365-2230
pISSN - 0307-6938
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2230.1987.tb01842.x
Subject(s) - medicine , dermatology , library science , family medicine , computer science
Summary Reticulate pigmentation of the neck is seen in some subjects with atopic eczema. It involves the anterior or antero‐lateral aspects. It is often interpreted as an unwashed appearance and we have called it the ‘Dirty Neck’. Two patterns have emerged. One is found in mildly eczematous, young patients who have a marked increase in pigment during the summer months; it may be confluent in some parts and reticulate in others. The second pattern is a feature of severe atopic eczema, develops after puberty and shows little seasonal variation. Neither pattern is necessarily associated with eczema of the affected area. The morphological and histological characteristics of the ‘Dirty Neck’ are described and possible aetiologies discussed. Distinctions are drawn from ichthyotic ‘dirty necks’ and other types of reticulate pigmentations.