Hi Mharie,
From what I was told, Mucha Habermann's disease is a general name for PLC/PLEVA, aka parapsoriasis (old-fashioned term). Of MH disease, you either get the chronic version(PLC) or the more acute PLEVA version, with pussing, etc... Sounds like you have the acute PLEVA version, which is frequently described as looking like chicken pox. My derm up in boston had seen quite a bit of it, because he specialized in the rarer conditions. I have yet to go to the pediatric derm here in Florida, but I am hopeful. My daughter's PLC never ever bleeds/pusses/scars, and luckily doesn't seem to irritate her, physically at least. (although she does have a generally sensitive skin to soaps, acidic foods such as tomatoes, etc..) It is basically a reddish-brown spot (3-5 mm in diameter) with a mica-like scale on it (looks like dry skin, and peels off "frosted glass" as you called it). New spots appear continuously, most often pronounced on her trunk, upper thighs, and upper arms. There are spots elsewhere such as on her back, front, and lower arms/legs. None on her palms/soles, scalp, and occassionally a couple will crop up on her chin area. The spots appear randomly, and may dissapear after several weeks or longer. Some are really small, and some are larger and more scaly. My derm said you only need to be concerned with PLC if the spots get to be as big or bigger than a quarter, and look "really angry", pussy, etc... They didn't seem to think that my daughter's PLC would evolve to PLEVA, since you either get one or the other. Although they said that with PLEVA, some spots can be PLC-ish; but rarely the other way round. My derm said that they are uncertain about the cause of PLEVA/PLC, but believe that it is an immune related disorder, something to do with T-cells, and related to psoriasis. My daughters spots all fade in time. Sometimes if she is taking swim lessons in the summer, they fade quicker. If she has a slight tan, the area becomes slightly hypopigmentated (I think that is the right word, a little pale/whitish), but that evens out, and is apparently typical.
I have been told that both PLEVA and PLC are conditions that grumble on for some months or years. PLC is typically meant to take longer to clear up, and PLEVA is shorter duration. I specifically remember that he said young children (pre-puberty) suffering from PLC/PLEVA are a little more predictable with their prognosis, and usually clear up by or during puberty. There was one young boy (young teenager) who had had it all over his body as a kid, and by 12 or 13, it was just on his hands. My doctor said that when you get it during teenager years, after puberty, it can be a little more unpredictable as to its duration. It is meant to be something that ends though. I have read about several people with PLEVA, and some seem to go on forever, but some do clear up. I feel really bad for you having it too. You mentioned that you were got it when you were fifteen? That must have been terrible. How was it in high school, and were people pretty cool about it, or did you get the stares? I know my daughter is starting to become self conscious about it, during gym, etc.... but I am trying not to make a big deal about it. Inside, I feel really bad though.
Take care,
Jahan
