Quantitative and qualitative dermatoglyphic patterns in patients with atopic eczema،vitiligo، and acne vulgaris

Fingerprint (dermatoglyphic patterns) is one of the oldest، best، cheapest، and most reliable proofs of identification. The present study was carried out to evaluate the relationship between dermatoglyphic patterns and some skin diseases; namely atopic eczema، vitiligo، and acne vulgaris. In this case–control study، qualitative and quantitive dermatoglyphic patterns (i. e. the finger and palm prints) of 180 patients consisting of three equal groups having eczema، vitiligo، or acne vulgaris; respectively and 60 healthy people (the control group) referred to the skin clinic of Vali-e-asr hospital، who had been matched regarding. sex and age.، were compared and assessed. The obtained data was analyzed by means of SPSS software (version 17)، and P<0. 05 was taken as the significant level. It was revealed that in both hands a-b ridge counting in the cases and the control group was not statistically significant. However، frequency distribution of the print of the left hand middle finger in the acne group or in the controls was not significantly different either. But differences between the print of the middle finger in the right hand in all the four groups and the controls was significantly different (P<0. 05). The results indicate that frequencies of various dermatoglyphic patterns differ in atopic eczema، acne vulgaris and vitiligo from that of normal population. Perhaps this difference can be used as a diagnostic biological marker to screen for those susceptible to these dermatoses.