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Dermatitis Artefacta in a Child
Author(s) -
Finore Enzo D.,
Andreoli Elisabetta,
Alfani Stefania,
Palermi Giuliana,
Pedicelli Cristina,
Paradisi Mauro
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
pediatric dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.542
H-Index - 73
eISSN - 1525-1470
pISSN - 0736-8046
DOI - 10.1111/j.1525-1470.2007.00441.x
Subject(s) - medicine , dysfunctional family , dermatology , harm , intervention (counseling) , multidisciplinary approach , psychiatry , psychology , social science , sociology , social psychology
The high visibility of dermatologic diseases and their easy accessibility make the skin a primary and direct target for dysfunctional behaviors. Self‐harm tendencies can frequently be expressed through dermatologic lesions, and dermatitis artefacta falls within this clinical frame. The occurrence of this cutaneous manifestation in children is very rare, with a peak of greater frequency in adolescence. We describe the characteristics of a multidisciplinary intervention—dermatologic and psychologic. Our pediatric patient displays a dermatologic picture that has no etiologic confirmation. The source of this disorder must therefore be found in socio‐relational difficulties within the family and school environments, which lead the patient to self‐harm behaviors that have a high communication value.