Painful Piezogenic Pitting of the Fingers in Older Adults: A Case Series

This case series described six older adults experiencing painful piezogenic pitting of the fingers, characterized by sustained skin depressions after pressure application. The study, conducted at Barzilai University Medical Center, involved patients aged 61 to 93 and revealed no abnormalities in baseline clinical tests or occupational exposure to chemicals. Histological analysis showed an increase in small nerve bundles at the dermoepidermal junction, which was not observed in 12 control samples. The proliferation of nerve endings might compensate for collagen loss in aging skin, potentially explaining the pain and pitting. Treatments like steroid cream with salicylic acid and local anesthetics provided some relief, suggesting that supportive measures could reduce symptoms by alleviating nerve stress.