Lichen nitidus, characterized by its typical clinical and histopathologic findings, is an uncommon chronic dermatosis of unknown etiology. The distribution of this disease is most often localized, but in some cases it may become generalized. Some
authors suggested that lichen nitidus is a variant of lichen planus in terms of its coincidence, ultrastructural and immunophenotypic studies.
We report herein a case of lichen nitidus which presents dark brown linear, grouped, or confluent papules on the face, chest, and upper extremities, accompanying with the histopathologic findings of pigmentary incontinence in the portion of claw
clutching a ball appearance. This report suggests that lichen nitidus shows hyperpigmentation clinically and could be one of the dermatoses which exhibit pigmentary incontinence in a histopathologic study. (Kor J Dermatol 1995;33(4) : 794~797)
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