ECSTASY PIMPLES - A NEW FACIAL DERMATOSIS

Ecstasy (XTC) has become a popular drug in the rave, dance and techno scene. Several severe disorders due to drug addiction have been descri bed but no dermatological symptoms. We report on 2 patients (20-year-o ld female, 21-year-old male) with medical problems after taking XTC. B oth developed a facial rash with reddish pimples after oral intake of XTC. The distribution resembled either periorificiaI dermatosis or acn eiform rash without white- or blackheads. The lesions cleared without specific treatment. We suggest that XTC pimples represent an acneiform dermatosis in young people taking designer drugs. Though the dermatos is itself seems to be mild, it may be a cutaneous marker for drug abus e.