Dermatitis neglecta in a case of meningomyelocele

Abstract

Dermatitis neglecta is a condition secondary to inadequate cleansing of the skin due to underlying causes such as pain, surgical site, neurological deficit, and neglect or psychocutaneous disorders. The result is an accumulation of keratin debris, sweat, sebum, and dirt giving a hyperkeratotic, hyperpigmented, and waxy appearance of the affected area. Soakage of the lesion with alcohol swabs and frictional cleaning of the area leads to the clearing of hyperkeratotic debris. We report a case of a 2-year-old male with dermatitis neglecta over meningomyelocele in the sacral region.