Stereotypical linear purpura of the upper limbs: A report of three cases of a rare psychocutaneous disorder and review of the literature

Mechanically induced purpura with its varied clinical presentations may often pose a great diagnostic challenge to the treating physician. In this report, we seek to familiarize clinicians with a relatively new and rarely diagnosed psychocutaneous disorder, stereotypical linear mechanically induced purpura of the upper limbs, which we had the chance to detect in three teenage girls from Eastern India. A review of the PubMed and Medline database reveals a paucity of information on this subject, especially in the English language literature. Only a handful of reports have been described worldwide till date. However, it is probably hitherto unreported from India.