engleski

Do we recognize skin artefacts soon enough?

Skin artefacts are frequently seen in individuals who are immature personalities when facing a stressful life situation. The visible skin lesions can be interpreted as an attempt of nonverbal communication, actually a silent appeal for help. In 49 patients with skin artefacts investigation by a dermatologist and a psychiatrist was done. The age of patients ranged from 15 to 78 years. The lesions were unusual in configuration, single or multiple, confined to area accessible to patients' hands. All skin lesions healed rapidly under the occlusive dressing. There was strenuous denial by 24 patients that they took part in provoking the lesions, while others admitted to have produced skin lesions by scratching, abrasions, cutting, burning, applying chemicals and plants, and injecting some ingredients under the skin. All that provoked heavy irritant dermatitis with erythema, erosions and sometimes ulcerations. Many of these patients displayed a rather neurotic emotional disorder and not psychosis. For better understanding and treatment of these patients early diagnose of artefact is crucial together with supportive consultations with dermatologist, psychiatrist, general practitioners and psychosocial worker. In more severe affected cases the recurrences can be frequent, so a longterm and intensive psychotherapy by an experienced analiticaly oriented therapist is recommended.

Skin artefacts; clinical lesions; treatment

nije evidentirano