Darier's sign is a change observed after stroking lesions on the

skin Skin is the layer of usually soft, flexible outer tissue covering the body of a vertebrate animal, with three main functions: protection, regulation, and sensation. Other animal coverings, such as the arthropod exoskeleton, have different ...

of a person with systemic mastocytosis or urticaria pigmentosa. In general, the skin becomes swollen,

itch Itch (also known as pruritus) is a sensation that causes the desire or reflex to scratch. Itch has resisted many attempts to be classified as any one type of sensory experience. Itch has many similarities to pain, and while both are unpleasant ...

y and red. This is a result of compression of

mast cell A mast cell (also known as a mastocyte or a labrocyte) is a resident cell of connective tissue that contains many granules rich in histamine and heparin. Specifically, it is a type of granulocyte derived from the myeloid stem cell that is a par ...

s, which are hyperactive in these

disease A disease is a particular abnormal condition that negatively affects the structure or function of all or part of an organism, and that is not immediately due to any external injury. Diseases are often known to be medical conditions that a ...

s. These mast cells release inflammatory granules which contain

histamine Histamine is an organic nitrogenous compound involved in local immune responses, as well as regulating physiological functions in the gut and acting as a neurotransmitter for the brain, spinal cord, and uterus. Since histamine was discover ...

. It is the histamine which is responsible for the response seen after rubbing the lesional skin.

Eponym

Darier's sign is named after the

French French (french: français(e), link=no) may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to France ** French language, which originated in France, and its various dialects and accents ** French people, a nation and ethnic group identified with Franc ...

dermatologist Dermatology is the branch of medicine dealing with the skin.''Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary.'' Random House, Inc. 2001. Page 537. . It is a speciality with both medical and surgical aspects. A dermatologist is a specialist medica ...

Ferdinand-Jean Darier Ferdinand-Jean Darier (26 April 1856 – 1938) was a French physician, pathologist and dermatologist called the "father of modern dermatology in France". Career Medical Born in Budapest, Hungary to French parents, Darier studied with Louis-Ant ...

(1856–1938) who first described it.

References

{{dermatology-stub Dermatologic signs

Eponym

See also

References