Purpose We describe the case of a severe skin ulcer of the heel in an adolescent girl hospitalised for anorexia nervosa (AN) associated with a severe excessive exercise. Methods This case report includes retrospective anamnestic and clinical data from the patient's medical record. A literature review was conducted on the dermatological changes described in AN. Conclusion Severe starving syndrome in AN due to intake restriction and pathological associated behaviours can cause serious somatic complications, including psycho-dermatological lesions. We describe a rare case of a nondiabetic plantar "mal perforant" resulting from multiple risk factors including prolonged undernutrition, excessive exercise, and significant psychiatric comorbidity with self-injury. We suggest that, in this context, one should include a particular attention to the risk of non-visible skin complications reflecting both the AN symptoms severity and the severity of the patient's psychological distress requiring individualised and specialised multidisciplinary approach.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
customersupport@researchsolutions.com
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Copyright © 2025 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.