Atrophie blanche

What is atrophie blanche?

Atrophie blanche is the name given to a particular type of scar arising on the lower leg. It occurs after a skin injury when the blood supply is poor. It may arise in association with:

• Livedoid vasculitis
• Venous insufficiency
• Diabetic vascular disease
• Any injury to the skin of an ageing lower leg, such as following cryotherapy or curettage and cautery in the treatment of skin cancers.

Atrophie blanche is characterised by:

• Star-shaped or polyangular, ivory-white depressed atrophic plaques
• Prominent red dots within the scar due to enlarged capillary blood vessels
• Surrounding pigmentation

Atrophie blanche

Curettage scar	Associated with discoid dermatitis	Venous eczema
Livedoid vasculitis	Severe scarring	Dermoscopic view