October 1st 2003A 34-year-old woman (gravida 3, para 2) presented at 28 weeks’ gestation with a 3-week history of a pruritic rash that had progressively worsened. Multiple vesicles and bullae were noted; erosions and crusts on older lesions were also present. The patient had had no prodromal symptoms; she denied fever, chills, nausea, and vomiting. The purplish hue on her body resulted from application of the topical antibacterial agent, gentian violet, which the patient had obtained in Mexico.