PUB - Publikationen an der Universität Bielefeld

Fox-Fordyce disease (apocrine milaria) is predominantly observed in women. A male patient with typical features of this disorder is described. Oral treatment with isotretinoin resulted in temporary relief. In 1902 Fox and Fordyce(1) described a 'rare papular disease affecting the axillary region'. The aetiopathogenesis of Fox-Fordyce disease (FFD) is unknown. Histologically, there is a keratinous obstruction of the intraepidermal portion of the ducts of apocrine glands with consequent rupture, followed by formation of spongiotic vesicles and acanthosis.(2) FFD therefore is considered to be an apocrine form of milaria.(3) The disorder is rather uncommon and preferentially afflicts women, with a ratio of approximately 9:1. The disease usually becomes manifest during the second to fourth decade of life.(3,4) There is no generally accepted mode of treatment, although numerous methods have been reported. Successful treatment with topical tretinoin cream has been described.(5,6) We describe a male patient with typical features of FFD and report on the results obtained with oral isotretinoin.