Clinical Features of Reticulate Pigmentation of the Neck in Adult Patients with Atopic Dermatitis; Treatment with Q-switched Ruby Laser

Abstract

We investigated the presence of reticulate pigmentation of the neck in 108 adult patients with atopic dermatitis. Twenty-six patients (24.1%) had reticulate pigmentation in this region. Patients with neck pigmentation showed significantly increased overall eczema severity and higher serum IgE levels than those without neck pigmentation; there were no significant differences in the age of onset or disease duration between the two groups. The association of asthma was significantly more frequent in pigmentation group than in non-pigmentation group, but there was no difference in the association rate of allergic rhinitis. These results suggest that reticulate pigmentation of the neck is closely related to the severity, but not to the duration, of the disease. Skin biopsies showed numerous melanin deposits and mild perivascular infiltrates in the upper dermis, which is consistent with previous reports. We treated this reticulate pigmentation of the neck with Q- switched ruby laser in 10 patients. Satisfactory results were obtained in all patients without any signs of recurrence after the follow-up period of up to 2 years and 10 months. Because the laser therapy has quick and definite effects on the neck pigmentation, it appears to be a useful treatment option for patients with refractory pigmentation of the neck.