Tribal makeup painting mimicking achromic lupus in a Teke tribal chef: icono-diagnosis is a dangerous art.

A close-up photograph of a Teke community Chief (Congo, circa 1880-1890) seemed to be of diagnostic interest, as areas of achromic maculae were visible on the hands: the most relevant diagnoses were a Koebner phenomenon on a background of vitiligo, or a diagnosis of lupus. However, examination of the entire photograph showed that the 'maculae' were in fact tribal makeup, showing the methodological limits of icono-diagnosis.