October iotaderma (#201)

Answer: Lichtenberg figures are branching, erythematous, fern-like skin lesions that occur after lightning strike injury. These feather-like patterns were first described by the German physicist Georg Christoph Lichtenberg (17421799), who observed them on dust-covered electrostatically charged resin. In 1976, Golde and Lee applied the name ‘‘Lichtenberg figure’’ to the arborescent skin lesions of lightning strike victims. The lesions are transient and asymptomatic. They are usually distributed on the torso and proximal extremities. They can also occur where metallic objects, such as zippers or jewelry, touch the skin at the time of lightning strike. It is postulated that Lichtenberg figures result from the release of electrons driven into the epidermis by the lightning strike. Histopathologic findings are nonspecific, and there is no evidence of burn, inflammation, or other tissue damage.