milii-related ICD has not been described before, it may induce keratoconjunctivitis causing burning pain, photophobia, lacrimation, and even decreased visual acuity. 4 Although one study testing sap or herb extracts from 60 different species in the Euphorbia genus on mice ears for the irritant effects concluded that 7 species including E. milii failed to produce irritation, the phorbol esters (one of the contents in croton oil), milliamines, euphorbol, and euphorbin in the sap were actually irritants to human skin. 1,5 Weber et al 3 suggested that Euphorbia sap-induced dermatitis is the result of a complex of cytopathogenic and proinflammatory effects. The direct pH-induced cytotoxicity of phorbol esters may induce corrosive effect leading to keratinocytes necrosis, whereas ingenol mebutate may cause recruitment of immune cells and augment the irritant reaction. 3 This report highlights the first case of ICD caused by E. milii with an atypical presentation as purpuric patches and provides an explanation of possible underlying pathophysiologic mechanisms.
ZEBRAThe sap of E. milii is a potential source of ICD, and protective measures are necessary during handling these ornamental plants.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTThe patient in this article has given written informed consent to publication of case details.
A cute-onset acral hyperpigmentation can be a concerning clinical finding presentation. Thorough consideration of both endogenous and exogenous etiologies is important for guiding evaluation and management. Endogenous causes include elevated adrenocorticotropic hormone, hemochromatosis, iatrogenic, melanocyte proliferation, subcorneal or intraepidermal hemorrhage, tinea nigra, and vasculitis. Exogenous etiologies include clothing, shoes, and plants. There is limited literature on the latter, especially on acral surfaces and in the pediatric population. We present a case of exogenous acral pigmentation in a young girl.
CASEA healthy 11-year-old girl presented to her primary care physician in October in Northeastern America with multiple 0.5-to 3.0-cm well-demarcated brown macules and patches on her bilateral plantar feet, mainly at pressure points (Fig. 1). These asymptomatic lesions had been noticed 1 week prior and persisted through vigorous washing. The patient denied prolonged exposure to water or cold temperatures. She had no personal or family history of skin cancer. During consultation with a pediatric dermatologist, additional history was elicited that the patient had been barefoot in the woods days before noticing the lesions. A diagnosis of exogenous acral hyperpigmentation secondary to barefoot contact with fallen husks of walnut trees was favored. Watchful waiting was recommended. The lesions resolved spontaneously. Figure 1. Asymptomatic brown macules (0.5-3 cm) and patches on the bilateral plantar feet of an 11-year-old girl.
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.