Skin discoloration caused by iron salts.

Monsel’s solution (ferric subsulphate) is an iron salt first described in the literature in 1856 by Leon Monsel (1). Since then it has been widely used by dermatologists as a haemostatic agent in minor surgical procedures, such as tangential excision and punch biopsy (2). Ferric chloride is also a source of ferric ions, which is used in dermatological procedures and is considered more convenient because of its higher solubility compared with ferric subsulphate (1). It has been described previously that iron salts may produce hyperpigmentation of the skin (3). Microscopically, iron salts present as pigmented artefacts in the dermis with foreign-body reaction that may resemble malignant melanoma (3, 4). We describe here a case of extensive reddish-brown discolouration following topical application of ferric chloride solution after dermabrasion.