[Undesirable skin reactions to lithium].

Lithium plays an important role in the treatment and prophylaxis of affective psychoses. Taking lithium-containing drugs by mouth can cause side effects on the skin, although severe side effects are rare. Acneiform dermatoses have been most frequently described. In addition, when taking lithium continuously, psoriasis can be triggered or worsened and the psoriasis tends to be resistant to treatment. Maculo papular eruptions, ulcers, keratosis pilaris like folliculitis, exfoliative dermatitis, dermatitis herpetiformis like eruption, and hair loss have been described. Possibly the blood level of lithium plays a decisive role in developing a dermatosis. If the skin side effect is mild, the dermatosis should be treated topically. If the dermatoses under lithium treatment are severe, a reduction in the lithium dosage should possibly be discussed with the psychiatrist. Only rarely does lithium have to be entirely discontinued.