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Atrophie blanche
What is atrophie blanche?
Atrophie blanche is the name given to a particular type of scar arising on the lower leg. It occurs after a skin injury when the blood supply is poor. It may arise in association with:
- Livedoid vasculitis
- Venous insufficiency
- Diabetic vascular disease
- Any injury to the skin of an ageing lower leg, such as following cryotherapy or curettage and cautery in the treatment of skin cancers.
Atrophie blanche is characterised by:
- Star-shaped or polyangular, ivory-white depressed atrophic plaques
- Prominent red dots within the scar due to enlarged capillary blood vessels
- Surrounding pigmentation
Curettage scar |
Associated with discoid dermatitis |
Venous eczema |
Livedoid vasculitis |
Severe scarring |
Dermoscopic view |
Related information
References
- Book: Textbook of Dermatology. Ed Rook A, Wilkinson DS, Ebling FJB, Champion RH, Burton JL. Fourth edition. Blackwell Scientific Publications.
On DermNet NZ:
Other websites:
- Livedoid Vasculopathy – emedicine dermatology, the online textbook
Books about skin diseases:
See the DermNet NZ bookstore