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Juvenile Plantar Dermatosis

  • Prepubertal children (wear shoes all day)
  • Boys > girls
  • Rarely adults

(thicker stratum corneum)

  • Worse in winter

  • Risk factors
    • Atopy
    • Plastic/rubber sports shoes
  • Humidity hydrates the stratum corneum layer leading to decreased resistance to wear and tear and eventual cracks

  • Dry, symmetric, shiny, erythema
  • Tender + scaling
  • Painful cracks / fissures
  • Affects:
    • Plantar feet
    • Spares the dorsa, interdigital spaces and instep

Associated with

  • Atopic dermatitis ((children)

Differential diagnosis:

  • Allergic contact dermatitis
  • Tylosis
  • Acquired palmoplantar keratoderma
  • Tinea pedis
  • Psoriasis
  • Recurrent palmar and plantar peeling
  • Palmoplantar pustulosis

  • Findings of chronic dermatitis

  • Self-limited
  • Avoid impermeable socks and shoes
  • Emollients
  • Keratolytics
  • Paraffin-ointments