Disease directory
Pigmented purpuric dermatosis
Published: September 18, 2026Updated: September 18, 2026
Important: Informational content intended for healthcare professionals. It does not replace clinical evaluation or establish a doctor-patient relationship.
Overview
- Definition
- A group of benign dermatoses characterized by petechiae/non-palpable purpura with ochre-brown hyperpigmentation (hemosiderin deposition) due to erythrocyte extravasation (“capillaritis”), with histology typically overlapping between subtypes. Sardana 2004 , Spigariolo 2021
- Synonyms/clinical umbrella
- Pigmented purulent dermatosis (PPD), capillaritis, pigmented purpura. Classical subtypes: Schamberg’s disease (progressive pigmented purpuric dermatosis), Majocchi’s annular telangiectoid purpura, lichen aureus, Gougerot-Blum’s lichenoid pigmented purpuric dermatosis, Doucas-Kapetanakis eczematoid purpura
- First description
- The entity “progressive pigmentary purpura” is historically attributed to Jay Frank Schamberg (1901) ; other eponymous subtypes were subsequently described by their classical authors (e.g., Majocchi; Gougerot-Blum). (Historical summary in reviews). Spigariolo 2021 , Sardana 2004
- Epidemiology (practical)
- Age: can occur at any age; common in adults and also in pediatric patients. Spigariolo 2021 , Ollech 2020
- Sex: variable according to subtype/series; in clinical cohorts, Schamberg is usually the most common type. Kim 2015
- Distribution: worldwide; in Asian series (e.g., Korea/Taiwan) lower limb forms predominate. Kim 2015 , Huang 2018
- Course: chronic-relapsing, with frequent residual pigmentation. Sardana 2004
- Codes
- ICD-10: L81.7 (Pigmented purpuric dermatosis).
- ICD-11: Usually coded under EF40.0 (Capillaritis) as an umbrella term for capillaritis/pigmented purpuras. (Note: Granularity may vary depending on the local implementation of the ICD-11 browser.)
- Diagnostic checklist (quick)
- Clinical presentation: non-palpable purpura + ochre pigmentation; location (legs), symptoms (pruritus), course (chronic/relapsing). Sardana 2004
- Rule out red flags: palpable lesions/necrosis/systemic symptoms. Huang 2018
- Minimum laboratory tests if atypical: complete blood count + platelets, PT/INR, aPTT, urinalysis. Torrelo 2003
- Biopsy: punch 4–5 mm from active lesion; add direct IF if vasculitis is suspected; IHC/TCR if CTCL is suspected. Çaytemel 2021 , Foo 2007
Doctors who treat Pigmented purpuric dermatosis
Directory specialists related to Pigmented purpuric dermatosis.
There are no specialists associated with this record yet
You can browse the full directory and filter by the condition you're interested in.
Go to directory