title: Erythema Ab igne after footbath with Chinese herbal remedies.
abstract: Erythema ab igne (EAI) is a reticulated, telangiectatic, and hyperpigmented skin eruption resulting from chronic exposure to long-term moderate heat. The incidence has decreased substantially today because of the advent of modern central heating systems. Recently, we encountered a patient who developed EAI after 2 weeks of footbaths with Chinese herbal remedies, which she used to treat her acute ankle sprain. Alternative Chinese medicine, such as herbal footbath, is a prevalent medical practice to treat acute pains as well as many chronic musculoskeletal ailments among Chinese and Asian populations. It has also become increasingly popular in Western countries in the past decade. Herein, we would like to report an uncommon case of iatrogenic EAI caused by footbath and raise the attention of clinicians to such rare, potentially malignant-transforming, dermatosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Jeng-Feng
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Ying-Chun
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Yu-Fei
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Chien-Ping
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Chiang
authors.forename: Wei-Ming
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004890:Erythema / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D005528:Foot; D006358:Hot Temperature / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D017495:Hyperpigmentation / Q000209:etiology*; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology; D013684:Telangiectasis / Q000209:etiology*
chemical_list: D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal