coal miner's dermatosis; Colliers' stripes

Etiology

• tattoing coal dust into the skin

Epidemiology

• ubiquitous among coal miners

Pathology

• result of scratches & small injuries in which coal dust becomes depositing during wound healing

Clinical manifestations

• numerous linear & irregularly shaped pigmentation of exposed skin
• greyish-blue in color
• most numerous on face, forearms, hands
• up to 1 inch in length
• linear or angular in shape

Notes

• coal dust may be used as pigment in tattoes in mining country

More general terms

• occupational dermatosis