Povidone-iodine Induced Fixed Bullous Eruption: A Case Report

Fixed drug skin eruption to the iodine especially manifesting by bullous lesions is very rare. We present a case of a 73-year-old female who developed multiple blisters on the fingers of both hands with serous or serous-hemorrhagic content after a week of postoperative topical use of Povidone-iodine. Clinically diagnosed bullous eruption resolved in 12 days on the background of offending drug discontinuation and systemic steroid treatment but then it was reappeared at the same site after re-treatment of inflamed wound with the same antiseptic drug. Three months later after the complete resolution of the symptoms, diagnostic examinations such as patch-test and provocation were performed. On the basis of these test results, the diagnosis of a fixed bullous eruption caused by Povidone-iodine was confirmed.