Disorders of Transepidermal Elimination

Transepidermal elimination is a disorder in which dermal stimuli profoundly effect the behavior and structure of the overlying epidermis. Briefly, there are two categories of disorders: the first are primary dermatoses and consist of elastosis perforans serpiginosa and reactive perforating collagenosis; the second group originates from alterations of dermal constituents in preexisting disorders which induces transepidermal elimination. Some examples are perforating granuloma annulare, pseudoxanthoma elasticum, sarcoid, lichen nitidus, and several others. The following is a review of the latter group.