ABSTRACT
Interface dermatitis is characterized by the presence of inflammatory cells at the dermo-epidermal junction, associated with vacuolar degeneration of the cytoplasm of the basal cells, so-called hydropic degeneration. When this phenomenon is very prominent it may result in separation of the epidermis from the dermis. The inflam matory cells are usually lymphocytes and sprinkle from the capillaries of the papil lary dermis. Interface dermatitis should be distinguished from lichenoid dermatitis, in which there is a lichenoid infiltrate in addition to the interface changes.
