Dermal mucinosis is often associated with collagen diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis,lupus erythematosus,and dermatomyositis,in addition to autoimmune thyroiditis.We report eight cases of dermal mucin deposition secondary to typical dermatomyositis with cutaneous lesions known as heliotrope rash and Gottron’s papules.Striking mucin deposition was observed in both the papillary dermis and reticular dermis of all biopsy specimens.Immunohistochemical analysis showed that CD34+dermal dendritic cells(DDCs)in the perilesional area in combination with vimentin+cells within the mucinous lesion might be important in giving rise to abnormal deposition of dermal mucin.On the other hand,numbers of factorⅩⅢa+DDCs and tryptase+mast cells were reduced within and surrounding the mucin deposition,as compared with those in the dermis of normal controls.A pathogenic mechanism of dermal mucin deposition is proposed.