Dermatitis Artefacta

Dermatitis artefacta, also known as factitial dermatitis, is a disease in which self-inflicted skin injury is utilized to fulfill a conscious or unconscious urge to playthe sick part. It is more frequent in women and individuals who have anunderlying mental illness or are under external stress. The diagnosis is one ofexclusion, and it is sometimes difficult to establish since patients seldomacknowledge to playing a part in the development of their lesions. Treatment canbe difficult, and treatment should rely on a multidisciplinary team comprised ofdermatology and psychiatrist.