Dermatologic Patterns and Psychological Drivers of Factitious Dermatitis in Adolescent Females

INTRODUCTION Factitious dermatitis (FD), also referred to as dermatitis artefacta, is a self-inflicted dermatologic condition characterized by the deliberate production of dermatologic lesions. It is classified under the category of psychodermatologic disorders, specifically as a primary psychiatric disease affecting the skin. The associated skin damage ranges from excoriations, abrasions, and blisters to deep ulcers and secondary skin infections. According to the DSM-5-TR, factitious disorders are categorized under “somatic symptom and related disorders,” a category that also includes non-self-inflicted lesions such as burning mouth syndrome and vulvodynia [1]. Efforts by international organizations aim to unify existing classification systems across the DSM-5, ICD-11, and psychiatric and dermatologic literature, to clarify the often-blurred boundaries within psychodermatology and, as a result, improve their clinical management [2].