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Iotaderma #229
IOTADERMA #229 What is morsicatio? Robert I. Rudolph, MD, FACP Answer will appear in the JAAD Online section of the March 2013 issue of the Journal.
JANUARY IOTADERMA (#228) To what does the term ‘‘wolf biter’’ refer? Answer: A ‘‘wolf biter’’ is a patient who continually—and compulsively— chews on or bites at their skin. The usual areas to be attacked are around the fingernails and the ends of the fingers, and the constant and repetitive trauma can result in significant scarring, pigmentation, or even callus formation. The affliction is also known as dermatophagia or dermophillagia. Other favored areas of biting are around the finger joints and the inner surfaces of the cheeks. The condition is related to trichophagia (the pulling and eating of one’s hair), and it is a manifestation of an obsessive compulsive disorder. REFERENCES Al Hawsawi K, Al Aboud K, Ramesh V. Dermatophagia simulating callosities. Dermatol Psychosom 2003;4:42-3. Scott Jr MJ, Scott 3rd MJ. Dermatophagia: ‘‘wolf-biter.’’ Cutis 1997;59:19-20. Wikipedia Web site. Dermatophagia. Available from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Dermatophagia. Accessed September 7, 2011.
Robert I. Rudolph, MD, FACP
e67
JANUARY IOTADERMA (#228) To what does the term ‘‘wolf biter’’ refer? Answer: A ‘‘wolf biter’’ is a patient who continually—and compulsively— chews on or bites at their skin. The usual areas to be attacked are around the fingernails and the ends of the fingers, and the constant and repetitive trauma can result in significant scarring, pigmentation, or even callus formation. The affliction is also known as dermatophagia or dermophillagia. Other favored areas of biting are around the finger joints and the inner surfaces of the cheeks. The condition is related to trichophagia (the pulling and eating of one’s hair), and it is a manifestation of an obsessive compulsive disorder. REFERENCES Al Hawsawi K, Al Aboud K, Ramesh V. Dermatophagia simulating callosities. Dermatol Psychosom 2003;4:42-3. Scott Jr MJ, Scott 3rd MJ. Dermatophagia: ‘‘wolf-biter.’’ Cutis 1997;59:19-20. Wikipedia Web site. Dermatophagia. Available from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Dermatophagia. Accessed September 7, 2011.
Robert I. Rudolph, MD, FACP
e67