Successful Treatment of Long-Standing Dermatillomania With Sertraline in a Rural Mexican Patient: A Case Report and Literature Review

TL;DR

A 57-year-old woman from rural Mexico with long-standing skin-picking disorder was successfully treated with sertraline, a type of antidepressant.

Contribution

This case report demonstrates the effectiveness of sertraline in treating dermatillomania in a rural clinical setting.

Findings

The patient showed significant improvement after being treated with sertraline alone.

The case emphasizes the importance of diagnosing and treating dermatillomania to prevent complications.

Abstract

Dermatillomania (DTM) is a psychodermatosis characterized by the presence of self-inflicted skin lesions due to excessive scratching in the absence of an underlying disease. We present the case of a 57-year-old female from a rural area of Zacatecas, Mexico, with an eight-year history of undiagnosed DTM, who exhibited extensive bilateral lesions on the arms, forearms, knees, and legs, which were successfully treated with sertraline alone. This article highlights the importance of DTM, its clinical presentation, and appropriate treatment to prevent complications.

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