ABSTRACT

Dowling-Degos Disease (DDD), is a rare, autosomal dominantly inherited pigmentation disorder. It is characterized by slowly progressive mottled or reticulated pigmented macules on the axillae, groins, perineum, inframammary regions and other flexural areas. The disease appears after puberty, most frequently during the fourth decade of life.

Herein, we report a 42-year old female patient who presented with dark brown hyperpigmented macules on her groins, perineum and inframammary areas at our outpatient clinic. The histopathological examination showed elongation of rete ridges from epidermis to dermis with a filiform or antler-like pattern. Increased melanin pigmentation on the peak of the rete ridges and melanophages in the papillary dermis were seen. Depending on these clinical and histopathological findings, DDD was diagnosed. DDD should be considered in the differential diagnosis of disorders with flexural pigmentation. (Turk J Dermatol 2012; 6: 55-7)