Hailey-Hailey disease misdiagnosed as candidal intertrigo: Case report of a rare skin disease

Abstract

Hailey–Hailey disease (HHD) is a rare autosomal-dominant blistering disorder characterized by macerated velvety, fissured, hypertrophic plaques with characteristic involvement of the intertriginous areas. The diagnosis is often suspected by the clinical appearance of the lesions in intertriginous areas as well as positive family history and confirmed by histological analysis of the lesional skin biopsy. A diagnosis of HHD is rarely made in this environment due to its resemblance to other dermatoses of the intertriginous areas and the rarity of the condition itself. We present a case report of HHD, a rare hereditary disease, involving two unrelated Nigerians seen in our dermatology clinic, who were diagnosed and successfully managed at our centre.