Eruptive Vellus Hair Cysts

Eruptive vellus hair cysts were first reported by Esterly, Fretzin and Pinkus in 1977. They described two children who developed asymptomatic papular eruptions over the chest and mentioned two other cases, also children, who presented after submission of the original manuscript. Histology revealed a mid-dermal cyst lined by squamous epithelium containing keratinous material and vellus hairs. Lee, Kim and Kang (1984) have recently reported 11 cases from Korea and have reviewed the literature. Typically multiple flesh-coloured, red or dark brown papules erupt on presternal skin, although other sites may be affected. The condition occurs in both sexes but appears to be confined to children and young adults. An autosomal dominant pattern of inheritance has been recorded in two kindreds (Piepkorn, Clark and Lombardi, 1981; Stiefler and Bergfeld, 1980). Burns and Calnan (1981) described a case in a Negro but there have been no reports of this condition in the Chinese.