History: Dermatomyositis is important to recognise because of an association of the condition with internal malignancy.The skin findings begin with redness and swelling of the face and the eyelids.The latter are often tender to touch.Red patches can also be seen on the back of the elbows and the front of the knees.Photosensitivity is also common.Erythema on the hands typically involves the joint surfaces in contradistinction to lupus erythematosus where the interphalangeal skin is involed.Chronic cases can show all sorts of skin signs including atrophy,hypo and hyperpigmentation,vasculitic purpura and calcification particularly in children.