Axillary Fox-Fordyce Disease Induced By Laser Hair Removal

Abstract

Fox-Fordyce disease (FFD) is an uncommon chronic inflammatory skin disease of the apocrine sweat glands that could be considered as a rare adverse event of laser hair removal. It is postulated that laser therapy could induce damage to the follicular infundibulum, resulting in epidermal detachment and altered keratinocytes maturation which led to keratin plugging. Here, we present a case of a post-pubertal woman who developed axillary itchy lesions with clinical and histological features compatible with FFD, after a series of axillary laser hair removal treatments. The management of the condition is unsatisfying: We suggested our patient stopping epilation sessions and applying topical corticosteroids, with good response on symptoms but no significant effect on the lesions.