Subcorneal pustular dermatosis.

Abstract

Knowledge of the bullous dermatoses has advanced with the more liberal application of the biopsy, allowing not only a more definitive classification of these eruptions but also an introduction of new members to the group. A newcomer among the vesicular and bullous diseases of the skin is subcorneal pustular dermatosis, first described by Sneddon and Wilkinson 1 in 1955 and introduced to the American literature by Greenbaum and Lee in 1958. 2 Additional cases have been added by Ellis 3 and Shoenfeld, 4 the former writer presenting an extensive review of the literature. Sneddon and Wilkinson pointed out that this disease complex presents a number of characteristic features which distinguish it from dermatitis herpetiformis, impetigo herpetiformis, pemphigus, and impetigo contagiosa. It is the purpose of this paper to present two patients with subcorneal pustular dermatosis, each of whom displays distinctive features of the disease but whose clinical