title: Two cases of unilateral ashy dermatosis.
abstract: Ashy dermatosis is a typically asymptomatic disease of unknown origin that causes symmetrical gray spots to appear on the trunk and extremities. We report 2 cases of ashy dermatosis with unilateral distribution. To our knowledge, only 5 cases of ashy dermatosis with unilateral lesion have been reported so far. Case 1: an 11-year-old woman presented with asymptomatic slate-gray pigmented plaques on the left trunk and left upper arm. The skin biopsy specimen demonstrated a mild lymphohistiocytotic infiltrate in the upper dermis with epidermal and dermal melanosis. Q-Switched ruby laser did not improve such lesions. Case 2: a 21-year-old man was referred to our hospital because of asymptomatic slate-gray pigmented plaques on the left trunk and left upper arm. Histopathological findings were compatible with a mild lymphocytic infiltration with melanin incontinence in the upper dermis. The mechanism that governs unilateral distribution of ashy dermatosis, including in our cases, remains unclear.
authors: Department of Dermatology, Osaka City University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan.
authors: Hisayoshi
authors: H
authors: Imanishi
authors: Daisuke
authors: D
authors: Tsuruta
authors: Hiromi
authors: H
authors: Kobayashi
authors: Masamitsu
authors: M
authors: Ishii
authors: Koichi
authors: K
authors: Nakagawa