Fox–Fordyce disease
A chronic itchy papular condition occurring in areas of the skin with apocrine glands especially the axilla of young women. Chronic blockage of the sweat gland ducts with a secondary, non-bacterial inflammatory response to the secretions and cellular debris in the cysts.
Similar to hidradenitis but without secondary bacterial infection so that no pus-draining sinuses are formed.
History
1902 – Original report in 1902 based on the reviews of two patients by Fox and the histopathological review by Fordyce
Associated Persons
- George Henry Fox (1846-1937)
- John Addison Fordyce (1858-1925)
Alternative names
- Apocrine miliaria
Controversies
The final conclusions of Fox and Fordyce regarding related to neurosis and to neurodermatitis was wrong; but their observation that individual lesions looked, at times, similar to keratosis pilaris was correct
References
- Fox GH, Fordyce JA. Two cases of a rare papular disease affecting the axillary region. J Cutan Genitourin Dis 1902; 20: 1-5. [Reprint: Arch Dermatol. 2002;138(1):16. JAMA]
- Böer A. Dr Fox and Fordyce – A biographical note. Dermatopathology: Practical and Conceptual. 2004; 10: 2
eponymictionary
the names behind the name
Graduated MBBS St George's University of London in 2023 after completing my BSc in Human Genetics at University of Nottingham in 2018. I completed my foundation training at St. Mary's Hospital, Isle of Wight and achieved the national award for my contributions to the Enhance Enable Programme in Leadership. In 2025, I commenced my role in Emergency Medicine in Sir Charle's Gairdner Hospital, Perth, Western Australia.
BA MA (Oxon) MBChB (Edin) FACEM FFSEM. Emergency physician, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital. Passion for rugby; medical history; medical education; and asynchronous learning #FOAMed evangelist. Co-founder and CTO of Life in the Fast lane | On Call: Principles and Protocol 4e| Eponyms | Books |