What is subcorneal pustular dermatosis (Sneddon-Wilkinson disease)?

Subcorneal pustular dermatosis is a rare, benign, chronic, relapsing dermatosis that was described by Sneddon and Wilkinson in 1956. It most commonly affects middle-aged women, although any age group, including children, may be affected. The lesions typically occur in the flexural and intertriginous areas, where they present as superficial vesiculopustules or pustules that often assume annular or gyrate patterns. The lesions may demonstrate peripheral extension and resolve with variable crusting and scaling. Typically, patients are otherwise healthy, but there are isolated case reports of an associated seronegative rheumatoid-like arthritis.

Ratnarathorn M, Newman J: Subcorneal pustular dermatosis (Sneddon-Wilkinson disease) occurring in association with nodal marginal zone lymphoma: a case report, Dermatol Online J 14:6, 2008.