Abstract

Kaposi’s varicelliform eruption (KVE) is a disseminated life threatening cutaneous infection caused by several viruses, mainly herpes simplex virus (HSV) 1 and 2 in patients with an underlying dermatosis. It is potentially life-threatening and is more common in children, mainly suffering from atopic dermatosis (AD), although it can occur at any age. Nevertheless, it occurs rarely in patients with psoriasis and this type is named “psoriasis herpeticum”. The diagnosis is mainly clinical. However, in case of doubt, there are several tests that can be useful. The most common complications are bacterial infection and systemic antibiotics are used to control the bacterial colonization. We report a case of a psoriasis herpeticum occurring in an immunosuppressed female patient treated with chemotherapy for a metastatic melanoma.