title: Dermatitis artefacta in a child.
abstract: The high visibility of dermatologic diseases and their easy accessibility make the skin a primary and direct target for dysfunctional behaviors. Self-harm tendencies can frequently be expressed through dermatologic lesions, and dermatitis artefacta falls within this clinical frame. The occurrence of this cutaneous manifestation in children is very rare, with a peak of greater frequency in adolescence. We describe the characteristics of a multidisciplinary intervention-dermatologic and psychologic. Our pediatric patient displays a dermatologic picture that has no etiologic confirmation. The source of this disorder must therefore be found in socio-relational difficulties within the family and school environments, which lead the patient to self-harm behaviors that have a high communication value.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Psychology and Psychosomatic Psychotherapy Service, Istituto Dermopatico dell'Immacolata-IRCCS, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Enzo D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Finore
authors.forename: Elisabetta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Andreoli
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Alfani
authors.forename: Giuliana
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Palermi
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pedicelli
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Paradisi
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D003872:Dermatitis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D005162:Factitious Disorders / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D002666:Psychology, Child; D012574:Schools; D016728:Self-Injurious Behavior / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy