FOX-FORDYCE-DISEASE IN A MALE-PATIENT - RESPONSE TO ORAL RETINOID TREATMENT

Fox-Fordyce disease (apocrine milaria) is predominantly observed in wo men. A male patient with typical features of this disorder is describe d. Oral treatment with isotretinoin resulted in temporary relief. In 1 902 Fox and Fordyce(1) described a 'rare papular disease affecting the axillary region'. The aetiopathogenesis of Fox-Fordyce disease (FFD) is unknown. Histologically, there is a keratinous obstruction of the i ntraepidermal portion of the ducts of apocrine glands with consequent rupture, followed by formation of spongiotic vesicles and acanthosis.( 2) FFD therefore is considered to be an apocrine form of milaria.(3) T he disorder is rather uncommon and preferentially afflicts women, with a ratio of approximately 9:1. The disease usually becomes manifest du ring the second to fourth decade of life.(3,4) There is no generally a ccepted mode of treatment, although numerous methods have been reporte d. Successful treatment with topical tretinoin cream has been describe d.(5,6) We describe a male patient with typical features of FFD and re port on the results obtained with oral isotretinoin.