Descriptive assay of the clinico-morphological characteristics of dermatoses presenting with reticulate pigmentation

Background: Reticulate pigmentation is characterized by freckle-like lesions configured to form a net-like or chicken-wire configuration with varying degrees of pigmentation. It intermingles with similar terms such as mottled pigmentation and dyschromia and poses difficulty in classification. Both genetic and acquired dermatoses may present with reticulate patterns yet may vary in morphology as well as the age of onset and presentation. Materials and methods: This was a hospital-based, descriptive, observational study conducted on thirty-two patients over a period of fifteen months at the dermatology OPD. Patients presented with reticulate pigmentary dermatoses were enrolled in the study after giving written informed consent. A detailed history and clinical examination were performed, and findings were recorded on a standard predesigned proforma. The data was analyzed with appropriate statistical tests. Results: In our study, a total of thirty-two patients with reticulate pigmentary dermatoses were enrolled, fourteen males and eighteen females, yielding a male-to-female ratio of 1:1.28. The most common age group affected was 41–50 years (28.12%). The onset of lesions was in young to middle adulthood (56.25%), followed by childhood and teenage years (34.37%). The most common disorder found was erythema ab igne (15.62%), while livedoid vasculopathy, Dowling–Degos disease, and confluent reticulate papillomatosis each constituted 9.37% of cases. Conclusion: This study assisted to incorporate the spectrum of RPD and to assess its frequency, morphological patterns, and prognosis. Owing to the paucity of research studies on RPD, the present study will be helpful in exploring future treatment modalities, thereby decreasing the enigma and concerns associated with RPD. Key words: Reticulate pigmentary dermatoses, Net-like lesions, Dyschromia