Table 5.

Dermatologic effects of lithium

Dermatologic adverse effects – 3 to 45% acneiform eruption

Exfoliative dermatitis

Psoriasis

Pityriasis versicolor

Pruritic maculopapular erythematous eruption

Dermatitis herpetiformis

Darier's disease

Alopecia (diffuse non-scarring type) – 12 to 19%

Lithium used to treat seborrheic dermatitis, eczematoid dermatitis and genital herpes

Aggravates cutaneous conditions associated with neutrophilic infiltration

Lithium ↓ cAMP level and ↑ neutrophil chemotaxis and lysosomal release

Lithium causes follicular plugging and occlusion