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Page:Skin Diseases of Children.djvu/114

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78
SKIN DISEASES OF CHILDREN.

of the eruption may be conveniently described as the papular, squamous, and rugous forms of the disease.

In the papular form of lichen ruber (Figs. 43 and 44) the lesions are small, usually acuminate, and often tipped with a minute white scale. When of recent development they produce an appearance quite similar to cutis anserina or follicular keratosis. Upon the dorsum of the fingers there is often noted a group of follicles plugged with blackened epidermic scales, while upon the palms and soles a scaly condition is usually pres-

Fig. 48.—Rugous form of lichen ruber.

ent, closely resembling a chronic squamous eczema (Fig. 45). The papules often increase rapidly in number upon certain portions of the body, become flattened and scaly as they coalesce, and now present an entirely different aspect.

In the squamous form of lichen ruber the eruption appears as white, scaly patches of varying size and form, and frequently bears a strong resemblance to ichthyosis (Fig. 46) or psoriasis (Fig. 47). The eruption in this stage shows a marked tendency to occur in elongated, spindle-shaped, or band-like patches.