Is lipoatrophia semicircularis a rare disease? Report of three cases.

Lipoatrophia semicircularis is characterised by band-like horizontal skin depressions involving the anterior and lateral sides of the lower limbs. Whether this occurrence is rare or is just not well known or simply underreported because it does not cause patient distress is still under discussion. In a 1-year period we observed three cases due to local, mechanical pressure in an Italian dermatology outpatient clinic. However, other factors described in current literature may contribute to this phenomenon. More large-scale studies are needed to clearly assess the origin of this condition.