The dermoscopic variability of Degos disease at different stages of progression

A 34-year-old woman presented with an 8-month standing eruption disseminated on the trunk and anterior upper limbs. Following their initial appearance, the skin lesions were described to occur in crops. On clinical examination, lesions of recent onset were small, dome-shaped, pale-red papules surrounded by an erythematous halo (Figure 1a), while papules of longer duration displayed a central ulceration covered by a yellowish crust and were surrounded by a whitish rim (Figure 2a). Finally, porcelain-white scars with a reddish or hyperpigmented halo were noted on the site of healed lesions. A 44-year-old man presented with widespread, bilateral and symmetrical skin lesions with a 6-month history. Similarly to the previous patient, the eruption consisted of lesions in three different evolution stages: reddish papules of recent onset, measuring 5 to 10 mm in diameter and not disappearing with pressure; reddish papules with a purple or necrotic center with or without central crust; and porcelain-white scars surrounded by an erythematous halo (Figure 3a). Dermoscopic examination in both patients revealed three different patterns, each one corresponding to a different evolution stage. Specifically, papules of recent onset were dermoscopically characterized by the combination of a reddish-to-purple background and purpuric dots (Figure 1b). At an intermediate progression stage, the papules displayed a targetoid pattern with yellowish, purple or necrotic center surrounded by an erythematous halo (Figure 2b). Finally, The dermoscopic variability of Degos disease at different stages of progression