Abstract
Dermatitis artefacta (factitious skin disorder) is a rare psychocutaneous disorder
that poses a complex clinical challenge to clinicians. The hallmarks of diagnosis
include self-inflicted lesions in accessible areas of the face and extremities that
do not correlate with organic disease patterns. Importantly, patients are unable to
take ownership of the cutaneous signs. It is essential to acknowledge and focus on
the psychological disorders and life stressors that have predisposed the condition
rather than the mechanism of self-injury. The best outcomes are achieved via a holistic
approach in the setting of a multidisciplinary psychocutaneous team addressing cutaneous,
psychiatric, and psychological aspects of the condition simultaneously. A non-confrontational
approach to patient care builds rapport and trust, facilitating sustained engagement
with treatment. Emphasis on patient education, reassurance with ongoing support, and
judgment-free consultations are key. Enhancing patient and clinician education is
essential in raising awareness of this condition to promote appropriate and timely
referral to the psychocutaneous multidisciplinary team.
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Article info
Publication history
Publication stage
In Press Accepted ManuscriptFootnotes
Conflicts of Interest: None declared.
Funding Statement: This work received no funding.
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© 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
