ABSTRACT
Poikiloderma of Civatte (PC) is a common, acquired poikiloderma of the face and neck. It is clinically important due to the significant cosmetic disfigurement it may produce. The etiopathogenesis of PC appears to be multifactorial. Involvement of sun-exposed areas of the neck and face, while anatomically shaded areas are spared, suggests that solar radiation plays a major role. Age distribution, especially in males, implicates a cumulative chronic pattern of sun exposure. PC, as well as erythematotelangiectatic rosacea, affects mostly fair-skinned middle-aged women. In genetically predisposed individuals, sun-induced damage of the dermal connective tissue results in telangiectasia due to loss of vascular support. The condition is only of cosmetic concern. PC must be differentiated from other causes of reticulate or mottled pigmentation of the neck, primarily Riehl's melanosis and erythromelanosis follicularis faciei et colli. The ideal treatment of PC should address both pigmented and vascular components at the same time. Lasers are the treatment of choice for PC.
