Assessment of pustular rash
Summary
Differentials
Common
- Impetigo
- Folliculitis caused by Pseudomonas
- Folliculitis caused by Staphylococcus aureus
- Pityrosporum folliculitis
- Herpes simplex virus
- Dermatophytosis: tinea barbae
- Dermatophytosis: tinea cruris
- Dermatophytosis: tinea pedis
- Dermatophytosis: tinea corporis
- Acne vulgaris
- Eosinophilic folliculitis (Ofuji's syndrome/disease)
- Sub-corneal pustular dermatosis (Sneddon-Wilkinson's disease)
- Infantile acropustulosis (IA)
- Fire ant bites
- Acrodermatitis continua (pustular acrodermatitis, acrodermatitis continua suppurativa Hallopeau, dermatitis perstans, and dermatitis repens Crocker)
- Pustular drug rash secondary to epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitors
- Acute generalised exanthematous pustulosis (AGEP)
- Generalised pustular psoriasis (von Zumbusch type)
- Transient neonatal pustular melanosis
- Pustulosis palmaris et plantaris (PPP)
- Erythema toxicum neonatorum
Uncommon
- Gram-negative folliculitis
- Folliculitis caused by herpes and other viruses
- Secondary syphilis
- Infantile scabies
- Candidal infection and disseminated candidiasis
- Peri-oral dermatitis
- Behcet's disease
- Pseudofolliculitis barbae
- Neonatal cephalic pustulosis (neonatal acne)
- Miliaria rubra ('prickly heat')
- Pustular rosacea
- Reactive arthritis
- Drug rash with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS)
- Corticosteroid-induced rosacea-like eruption/corticosteroid acne
- Ulcerative or typical pyoderma gangrenosum
- Atypical form of pyoderma gangrenosum (APG)
- Orf
- Amicrobial pustulosis of the folds (APF)
- Erosive pustular dermatosis
Contributors
Authors
Asra Ali, MD
Dermatologist
Texas Dermatology
Houston
TX
Disclosures
AA declares that she has no competing interests.
Peer reviewers
Paradi Mirmirani, MD
Physician
Department of Dermatology
Kaiser Permanente Vallejo Medical Center
Vallejo
CA
Disclosures
PM declares that she has no competing interests.
Peer reviewer acknowledgements
BMJ Best Practice topics are updated on a rolling basis in line with developments in evidence and guidance. The peer reviewers listed here have reviewed the content at least once during the history of the topic.
Disclosures
Peer reviewer affiliations and disclosures pertain to the time of the review.
References
Key articles
Ramakrishnan K, Salinas RC, Agudelo Higuita NI. Skin and soft tissue infections. Am Fam Physician. 2015 Sep 15;92(6):474-83.Full text Abstract
Mengesha YM, Bennett ML. Pustular skin disorders: diagnosis and treatment. Am J Clin Dermatol. 2002;3:389-400. Abstract
Conlon JD, Drolet BA. Skin lesions in the neonate. Pediatr Clin North Am. 2004;51:863-388, vii-viii. Abstract
Reference articles
A full list of sources referenced in this topic is available to users with access to all of BMJ Best Practice.
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Impetigo
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