Lichen striatus-like leukoderma.

A particular pigmentary disorder develops on the skin of Chinese children. The lesions are composed of whitish macules and patches arranged in linear bands on the extremities unilaterally. Histologically these lesions are hypopigmented chronic dermatitis. Although the lesions are arranged in a lichen striatus pattern, they differ clinically from lichen striatus by the absence of papules and plaques. These cases may represent a new entity. The differential diagnosis includes lichen striatus, vitiligo, piebaldism, nevus depigmentosus, and hypomelanosis of Ito. The differences between the disorder presented here and those of different diagnosis are discussed.