Author: Vanessa Ngan, Staff Writer, 2005.
Fox-Fordyce disease is a rare skin disorder that occurs mainly in women between the ages of 13 and 35 years. However, it sometimes affects males and children. The condition is also referred to as ‘apocrine duct occlusion’ and ‘sweat retention disease’.
The condition is characterised by the development of itchy bumps around the hair follicles of the underarm area, pubic region, and around the nipples. It results from inflammation of the apocrine sweat glands, which are found only in these areas.
Fox-Fordyce disease may result in very intense itch that disturbs sleep, but in some cases does not result in any symptoms. The condition frequently occurs under conditions of heat, humidity, friction and stress. Common features include:
The 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 (but it may also persist afterwards).
The cause of Fox-Fordyce disease is unknown. For some reason, apocrine sweat becomes trapped as a scaly plug forms in the hair follicle. The apocrine sweat ducts rupture, leak and become inflamed, resulting in intense itching.
Factors identified as playing a part in the development of the condition include:
Diagnosis is made on patient history and clinical appearance of the rash.
There is no cure for Fox-Fordyce disease. Medical treatments that have been used with varying degrees of success include:
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