[Facial confluent and reticulate papillomatosis (Gougerot-Carteaud syndrome) or hyperkeratotic head and neck Malassezia dermatitis?]

Background: We report three patients with brown hyperkeratotic lesions of the face. Two cases have been published [Boralevi et al. (2006)] under the title "Hyperkeratotic Head and Neck Malassezia Dermatosis (HHNMD)". A patient recently diagnosed with confluent and reticulated papillomatosis (CRP) (Gougerot-Carteaud) allowed us to link theses two entities.

Patients and methods: A 56-year-old woman was followed for extensive CRP. Cultures for fungi and bacteria were negative. During the course of the disease, she developed brown hyperkeratotic dermatitis on both cheeks.

Discussion: CRP is a rare or probably under-diagnosed condition. Brown, scaly, hyperkeratotic macules and patches are observed with a confluent and reticulated disposition. The chest and neck are generally involved, but extensive forms are possible. Facial involvement is rare. HHNMD, the disorder we earlier described, could be a facial presentation of CRP with contingent yeast colonisation. A therapeutic test with tetracyclines may be considered in HHNMD.