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General Medicine

Fox-Fordyce Disease

Franklin J Berkey, DO and Dongsheng Jiang, MS, MD Reviewed 05/2023
 


BASICS

DESCRIPTION

A chronic pruritic skin condition involving inflammation of the apocrine glands. Named after the two physicians who first described it. Also known as apocrine duct occlusion or apocr...

DIAGNOSIS

HISTORY

  • Development of pruritic papules at the time of puberty with gradual worsening

  • Extreme pruritus is usual. It can be asymptomatic 1 in every 3–4 patients.

  • Symptoms may improve with pregna...

TREATMENT

GENERAL MEASURES

  • Nonsurgical treatment is difficult because no single treatment has been shown to be very effective.

  • Avoidance of excessive sweating or heat may ameliorate symptoms.

MEDICATION

First Line

ONGOING CARE

PATIENT EDUCATION

Avoid activities that may result in increased sweating. 

PROGNOSIS

Can be recurrent. Lesions may last months to years or may subsequently resolve with treatment. Long-term ...

REFERENCES

1
Singal A, Kaur I, Jakhar D. Fox-Fordyce disease: dermoscopic perspective. Skin Appendage Disord. 2020 Jul;6(4):247–249.
2
Miao C, Zhang M, Zhang H, et al. Fox-Fordyce disease. An Bras Dermat...

CODES

ICD10

L75.2 Apocrine miliaria 

SNOMED

  • 65038009 Fox-Fordyce disease

  • 403372003 Fox-Fordyce disease of axillae

  • 403373008 Fox-Fordyce disease of vulva (disorder)

CLINICAL PEARLS

  • Fox-Fordyce presents as chronic flesh-colored perifollicular pruritic papules in areas where sweat glands are concentrated.

  • Primarily in females, ages 13–35, and symptoms may improve wi...

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