Fox-Fordyce disease is most common in women aged 13-35 years; it is rare before or after this age.
Fox-Fordyce disease is an rarely happing chronic pruritic papular eruption that place to areas where apocrine glands are create. This condition is also referred to as ‘apocrine duct occlusion’ and ‘sweat retention disease’. Approximately 90 percent of patients with Fox-Fordyce disease are female. Fox-Fordyce disease sometimes affects males and children. It is characterized by the development of intense itching usually in the underarm area, the pubic area, and around the nipple of the breast.
Itching occurs intermittently and extends a climax during the premenstrual phase. The disease is basically restricted to the genito-anal region, the axillae, and the elbow. Perspiration becomes trapped in the sweat gland and in the surrounding area causing intense itching, inflammation, and enlargement of the glands. Skin in the area may become darkened and dry; embossed patches develop. Hair follicles in the area dry out causing in loss or damage of hair. In united states fox-fordyce disease is an infrequent condition. Many case reports mention heat, humidity, and stress as exacerbating factors.
This condition may persist for many years. In some instances it may clear up in pregnancy for unknown reasons. In others it may resolve at the menopause. There is no cure for Fox-Fordyce disease. Medical treatments that have been also used several cases. Topical steroids have not been useful. Topical retinoid have been annoying, which has limited their long-term use. Hormonal therapy with high-estrogen oral contraceptives, estrogen creams, and testosterone creams has been used, sometimes with success but often with failure. Other forms of treatment employed are ultraviolet radiation, dermabrasion, liposuction and surgical excision.
