A Case of Akatsuki Disease

Abstract

A case of Akatsuki disease was reported. Akatsuki disease which was named and reported first by Dr. Sakamoto in 1964 is defined as the skin lesions that are induced by neglect of skin hygiene and based upon certain psychological mechanisms. A 58 year-old female diagnosed as Akatsuki disease was referred to our department by a bermatologist. She had not been able to bathe for more than seven years because she felt burning sesations on her face when she took a bath. When she was admitted to our hospital, her cheeks looked red. When she put her hands into hot water, her face became more red and that state lasted over ten hours. However, endocrinological studies could not explain her complaints. As she was in a hypochondriacal state and also suspected to be in a hypersensitive state of the vasomotion of her face, Autogenic Training as well as the image therapy called "Nanso no Hou" were introduced in addition to supportive psychotherapy and congnitive, behavioral modification. As the result, the redness of her cheeks disappeared and she became able to take a hot shower in two months, and was discharged from the hospital.