Successful Treatment of Severe Friction Melanosis with Coix-seed Reactive Derivatives (CRD): A Case Report / 日本補完代替医療学会誌

ABSTRACT

Friction melanosis is a cutaneous entity characterized by a brownish pigmentation distributed on the skin over bony regions of various sites including a trunk or the limbs, after the use, for many years, of a nylon towel or scrub brush to clean the skin. Moreover, repeated trauma due to friction of clothes on the skin over bony prominences are another factors characterizing its pathogenesis. In this report, we presented the case of a 58-year-old man who developed severe friction melanosis around both knees and lower extremities for about 20 years. Coix-seed Reactive Derivatives (CRD) was administrated orally 2.1g twice a day for 6 months. The lesions of pigmentation diminished markedly within 3 months. Further research is needed to define the optimal dose and duration of CRD intake against friction melanosis.