Uremic frost- A rare skin manifestation of severe kidney disease

Uremic frost is a rare dermatological manifestation of severe azotemia. It is rarely seen today because of early dialytic intervention. It occurs when high concentration of urea and other nitrogenous waste products accumulate in the sweat and then crystallizes as deposit on the skin after evaporation in a process called uridrosis or urinous sweat. Its a sign of impending renal failure and portends bad prognosis. Involvement of urea transporters may have a role in its development. Damage to the cutaneous microvasculature, eccrine sweat and sebaceous glands may be responsible for the high level of urea accumulation on skin. The test to analyze that the crystalline material is urea or nitrogenous waste products, the scrapings of the sample can be dilutad in normal saline and then tested for elevated urea nitrogen level. No specific therapy except correcting the underlying etiology