A Benign yet Unsightly Rash

Abstract

A 40-year-old Indian lady presented with dirty-looking brown reticulate plaques on her chest, back, and neck of 10-year duration. The lesions were asymptomatic and improved only slightly with steroid creams. She was, otherwise, in good health and worked in a garments factory. Fungal scrapings were negative, and she declined a biopsy. With the working diagnosis of confluent and reticulated papillomatosis (CARP) of Gougerot and Carteaud, she was treated with 4 weeks of oral doxycycline. One month later, the rash had cleared dramatically, further confirming the diagnosis. This case highlights the importance of recognizing this uncommon, benign, yet cosmetically distressing condition and providing appropriate treatment.