Terra firma-forme dermatosis: A report of ten individuals with Duncan’s dirty dermatosis and literature review

Abstract

Background:

Terra-firma forme dermatosis, also known as Duncan’s dirty dermatosis, is a benign skin condition that presents as dirt-like plaques in patients of all ages.

Purpose:

We describe a series of ten patients that presented with terra-firma forme dermatosis.

Methods and Materials:

We reviewed PubMed for the following terms: dermatosis, Duncan’s dirty dermatosis, isopropyl alcohol, terra firma, and terra firma-forme dermatosis. We also reviewed papers containing these terms and their references.

Results:

The diagnosis of terra firma-forme dermatosis was confirmed in all patients who had complete resolution of each lesion after the application of 70% isopropyl alcohol.

Conclusions:

Terra-firma forme dermatosis is easily diagnosed and treated with 70% isopropyl alcohol. It is important to recognize this benign dermatologic condition since it can be confused with other cutaneous disorders. Therefore, in order to avoid unnecessary referrals, biopsies, blood tests, and medications, we suggest a trial of wiping the skin lesion with 70% isopropyl alcohol pads when the diagnosis of terra-firma forme dermatosis is considered.

Introduction

Terra-firma forme dermatosis is a benign condition with a characteristic clinical appearance of brown or black hyperkeratotic plaques or papules. The application of 70% isopropyl alcohol is both diagnostic and therapeutic for this disorder. We describe ten patients who presented with terra-firma forme dermatosis that usually affected skin creases and that resolved after wiping with 70% isopropyl alcohol pads.

Case series

Terra-firma forme dermatosis was diagnosed in ten Caucasian patients whose clinical characteristics are summarized in Table 1. The morphology of each lesion was similar and consistent with terra-firma forme dermatosis: brown and/or black plaques or papules or both. Final diagnosis was confirmed with the resolution of each lesion after firm rubbing with 70% isopropyl alcohol pads. Our patients included nine men and one woman. The men’s ages ranged from 54 to 86 years, with a mean age of 70 years. The woman was 59 years of age. Most of the patients were unaware of their asymptomatic dermatosis. All patients practiced good hygiene and showered a minimum of every other day or daily. In addition, with the exception of one patient (case 4), all were capable of reaching the affected locations while showering. Most of the lesions (except case 6) were located on concave sites (Figures 1 and 2) or flexor areas or skin folds (Figure 3); less common locations included in-between the toes (case 2) (Figure 4), the right ear concha (case 4) (Figure 5), and the occipital scalp (case 6). Only one patient had involvement of two distant sites, the chest and the groin (case 7). In addition, most of the patients had other medical conditions that were most likely a reflection of their age and not a predisposing factor to terra-firma forme dermatosis. Several patients had a history of non-melanoma skin cancer (cases 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, and 9), while only one patient had a history of melanoma (case 9).

TABLE 1.

Clinical characteristics of ten patients with terra firma-forme dermatosis [1,2]

Case	Age (yrs)	Race	Sex	Location	Hx of NMSC	Other Medical Conditions
1	54	C	M	Right and left inguinal folds Right suprapubic region	No	None
2	58	C	M	All interspaces between the first through fourth toes on both feet	No	Addison disease Chronic lymphocytic leukemia Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy Hypothyroidism
3	61	C	M	Skin folds on the anterior neck	Yes: SCC	Atrial fibrillation Coronary artery disease Depression Generalized anxiety disorder Hypertension
4	66	C	M	Concha of right ear	Yes: SCC	Depression Hyperlipidemia Hypertension Narcolepsy Prostate cancer Urge urinary incontinence Vocal cord palsy
5	66	C	M	Central chest	Yes: BCC, SCC	Anxiety Gout Hypercholesterolemia Hypertension Insomnia Macular puckering of retina
6	73	C	M	Occipital scalp	No	Meningioma
7	82	C	M	Right distal neck fold Right and central chest Left inguinal fold	Yes: BCC, SCC	Benign prostatic hyperplasia Chronic lymphocytic leukemia Hypertension Obstructive sleep apnea
8	82	C	M	Right and left inguinal folds	Yes: BCC	Coronary artery disease Diverticulosis Hypertension Prostate cancer
9	86	C	M	Right and left subclavicular chest	Yes: BCC	Melanoma
10	59	C	W	Right chest, skin fold beneath the right breast	No	Anxiety Asthma Breast cancer Hypertension Hypothyroidism Insomnia Osteoporosis

^1.Abbreviations: BCC, basal cell carcinoma; C, Caucasian; Hx, history; M, man; NMSC, nonmelanoma skin cancer; SCC, squamous cell carcinoma; W, woman; yrs, years

^2.The morphology of all lesions was similar, consisting of brown or black plaques or papules. All lesions resolved with firm application of 70% isopropyl alcohol

Figure 1.

Terra firma-forme dermatosis in an 82-year-old man (case 7). A brown plaque is present on the concave skin of the right distal neck (A). Resolution of the brown plaque after rubbing with several 70% isopropyl alcohol pads (B). The isopropyl alcohol pads before (C) and after (D) use, showing evidence of the brown pigmentation that was removed. [Copyright: ©2015 Greywal et al.]

Figure 2.

The initial appearance of a brown plaque on the subclavicular chest of an 86-year-old man (case 9) (A). Resolution of the brown plaque after rubbing with 70% isopropyl alcohol (B). [Copyright: ©2015 Greywal et al.]

Figure 3.

An 82-year-old man (case 8) with a hyperkeratotic brown plaque in the inguinal fold, as seen on initial presentation (A). Clearing of the lesion in the inguinal fold after aggressive wiping with 70% isopropyl alcohol pads (B). [Copyright: ©2015 Greywal et al.]

Figure 4.

Clinical presentation of terra firma-forme dermatosis in a 58-year-old man (case 2). Brown plaques affecting the interspaces between the first through fourth toes, bilaterally (A). Clearing of terra firma-forme dermatosis after wiping with 70% isopropyl alcohol pads (B). [Copyright: ©2015 Greywal et al.]

Figure 5.

Terra firma-forme dermatosis in a 66-year-old man (case 4). Initial presentation of black and brown papules and plaques on the concha of the right ear (A). Resolution of all pigmentation after the application of 70% isopropyl alcohol (B). [Copyright: ©2015 Greywal et al.]

Discussion

Terra firma-forme dermatosis is a benign condition of acquired dirt-like plaques. The name, “terra firma,” is derived from the Latin words meaning “solid land” [1,2]. It has also been referred to as Duncan’s dirty dermatosis since the condition was first described by Duncan, Tschen, and Knox in 1987 [3]. This condition affects people of all ages, with some reports of a higher incidence in children and young adults [1,3–7]. Terra firma-forme dermatosis does not have a predilection for any particular gender, although our patients were predominantly men [4,6]. It is also unrelated to any known genetic condition or familial inheritance [8].

Terra firma-forme dermatosis usually presents as asymptomatic black or brown, dirt-like plaques [1,4,6,9,10]. It may also have a papillomatous, verrucous, or reticulate appearance [6,11]. Lesions are typically located on the neck, face, trunk, and ankles, although they may involve any area of the body [1,2,4,5,7–9]. One study observed that terra firmaforme dermatosis had a predilection for heavier patients and concave skin areas, which is consistent with the majority of our patients’ presentations [12]. The distribution of terra firma-forme dermatosis varies; it can be localized, generalized, bilateral, or unilateral [4,7–9]. Lesions appear in patients with normal hygiene, yet are resistant to scrubbing with soap and water [1,3,10,11]. In addition, investigators have suggested that terra firma-forme dermatosis most often presents during the warmer months of the year [3,4].

The diagnosis of terra firma-forme dermatosis is classically based upon clinical presentation and subsequent lesion resolution after the application of 70% isopropyl alcohol [1–4,6,9,11]. Aggressive rubbing with 70% isopropyl alcohol pads is sometimes required to achieve the appropriate shearing forces to remove all pigmentation [2]. Biopsies are not frequently performed. If tissue is obtained, hematoxylin and eosin staining will show lamellar hyperkeratosis with compact orthokeratotic whorls and an absence of parakeratosis, acanthosis, papillomatosis, keratotic material between the papillae, and melanin deposition not only within the basal layer but also in the hyperkeratotic areas [1–6,8,10,11]. Numerous keratin globules can also be visualized throughout the stratum corneum with toluidine blue staining [1,2,5].

The differential diagnosis for terra firma-forme dermatosis includes acanthosis nigricans, confluent and reticulate papillomatosis, dermatosis neglecta, dirty neck syndrome of atopic dermatitis, epidermal nevi, epidermolytic hyperkeratosis, granular parakeratosis, ichthyosis, idiopathic deciduous skin, omphalith, pseudoacanthosis nigricans, seborrheic keratosis, and tinea versicolor [1–6,8–11].

The etiology of terra firma-forme dermatosis is unclear [1–5,11]. Many believe this condition is caused by delayed keratinocyte maturation, which leads to the retention of keratinocytes and melanin within the epidermis [3,4,6,8,10]. This disordered keratinocyte buildup and compaction with surrounding sebum and dirt may ultimately explain the hyperkeratosis and hyperpigmentation clinically seen in terra firma-forme dermatosis [3,8,10].

The treatment of terra firma-forme dermatosis consists of the application of 70% isopropyl alcohol; it is both diagnostic and therapeutic [1,3–5,10,11]. Occasionally, lesions may recur after the initial complete removal of all hyperpigmentation; indeed, one of our patients (case 7) developed easily treated new lesions on his subclavicular chest within three months after the original lesions had been completely removed [2]. In this situation, additional wiping with isopropyl alcohol is recommended [2,8]. Some patients may require weekly application of isopropyl alcohol to maintain resolution or for prophylaxis [2,8]. Consistent moisturizing to the effected skin is important to prevent xerosis after regular treatments with isopropyl alcohol.

Conclusion

Terra firma-forme dermatosis presents as asymptomatic, brown, dirt-like plaques. All of our patients presented with this typical morphology, and their lesions successfully resolved after the application of 70% isopropyl alcohol. While terra firma-forme dermatosis typically presents on the neck, face, trunk, and ankles, our patients’ lesions predominantly involved skin folds. It is important to consider the possibility of this benign dermatologic condition and the many locations in which it can present since it can readily mimic other cutaneous disorders. Therefore, in order to avoid unnecessary referrals, biopsies, blood tests, and medications, we suggest a trial of wiping the skin lesion with 70% isopropyl alcohol pads when the diagnosis of terra firma-forme dermatosis is entertained.