Nagashima disease Following Bariatric Surgery: A Case Report

Bariatric surgery is an effective intervention for severe obesity and related comorbidities. The global increase in obesity has led to a rise in bariatric procedures, highlighting the need for the evaluation and management of postoperative complications. These complications vary from minor issues to life-threatening events. Prurigo pigmentosa (PP), also known as Nagashima disease, is an acquired dermatological condition characterized by a markedly pruritic eruption of erythematous papules and papulovesicles on the back, neck, and chest and improved leaving macular reticulated hyperpigmentation. First described in 1971 by Japanese dermatologist Masaji Nagashima, the condition was initially observed among eight patients of Asian descent. PP has been strongly associated with ketosis and a ketogenic diet; however, its precise etiology remains unclear. The condition predominantly affects young women of Asian descent. Here, we report a case of PP in a Libyan male, which developed 13 days post-bariatric surgery. This presentation could be suggestive of a stronger relationship between PP and the metabolic state of the body. It also outlines the effectiveness of treatment options currently in use for treating PP.