Vascular abnormalities in lichen aureus.

Lichen aureus is an infrequently reported subset of the pigmented purpuric dermatoses. A review of the English literature suggests the golden to purple colored lesions are asymptomatic or mildly pruritic with no regression once established. A case report of a 56-year-old man with lichen aureus of the thighs is presented. This case is unusual in that the patient had persistent pain at the lesion site. Furthermore, increased capillary fragility and koebnerization were both demonstrated. Treatment of an asymptomatic urinary tract infection resulted in temporary subjective and objective improvement.