Hyperkeratosis

Hyperkeratosis is thickening of the stratum corneum (the outermost layer of the epidermis), often associated with the presence of an abnormal quantity of keratin,[1] and also usually accompanied by an increase in the granular layer. As the corneum layer normally varies greatly in thickness in different sites, some experience is needed to assess minor degrees of hyperkeratosis.

Hyperkeratosis
Micrograph showing hyperkeratosis. H&E stain.
Pronunciation
SpecialtyDermatology 

It can be caused by vitamin A deficiency or chronic exposure to arsenic.

Hyperkeratosis can also be caused by B-Raf inhibitor drugs such as Vemurafenib and Dabrafenib.[2]

It can be treated with urea-containing creams, which dissolve the intercellular matrix of the cells of the stratum corneum, promoting desquamation of scaly skin, eventually resulting in softening of hyperkeratotic areas.[3]

Types

Follicular

Follicular hyperkeratosis also known as keratosis pilaris (KP), is a skin condition characterized by excessive development of keratin in hair follicles, resulting in rough, cone-shaped, elevated papules. The openings are often closed with a white plug of encrusted sebum. When called phrynoderma the condition is associated with nutritional deficiency or malnourishment.

This condition has been shown in several small-scale studies to respond well to supplementation with vitamins and fats rich in essential fatty acids. Deficiencies of vitamin E,[4] vitamin A, and B complex vitamins have been implicated in causing the condition.[5]

By other specific site

  • Plantar hyperkeratosis is hyperkeratosis of the sole of the foot. It is recommended to surgically remove the dead skin, to provide symptomatic relief.
  • Hyperkeratosis of the nipple and areola is an uncommon benign, asymptomatic, acquired condition of unknown pathogenesis.[6]:636

Hereditary

Other

  • Hyperkeratosis lenticularis perstans (also known as "Flegel's disease"[7]) is a cutaneous condition characterized by rough, yellow-brown keratotic, flat-topped papules.[6]:639[7]

In mucous membranes

The term hyperkeratosis is often used in connection with lesions of the mucous membranes, such as leukoplakia. Because of the differences between mucous membranes and the skin (e.g. keratinizing mucosa does not have a stratum lucidum and non keratinizing mucosa does not have this layer or normally a stratum corneum or a stratum granulosum), sometimes specialized texts give slightly different definitions of hyperkeratosis in the context of mucosae. Examples are "an excessive formation of keratin (e.g., as seen in leukoplakia)"[12] and "an increase in the thickness of the keratin layer of the epithelium, or the presence of such a layer in a site where none would normally be expected."[13]

Etymology and pronunciation

The word hyperkeratosis (/ˌhpərˌkɛrəˈtsɪs/) uses combining forms of hyper- + kerato- + -osis, conveying "the condition of too much keratin".

See also

References

  1. Kumar, Vinay; Fausto, Nelso; Abbas, Abul (2004) Robbins & Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease (7th ed.). Saunders. Page 1230. ISBN 0-7216-0187-1.
  2. Niezgoda, Anna; Niezgoda, Piotr; Czajkowski, Rafal (2015) Novel Approaches to Treatment of Advanced Melanoma: A Review of Targeted Therapy and Immunotherapy BioMed Research International
  3. drugs.com > Urea Cream (Prescribing Information) Revised: 04/2010 by Stratus Pharmaceuticals
  4. Nadiger, HA (1980). "Role of vitamin E in the aetiology of phrynoderma (follicular hyperkeratosis) and its interrelationship with B-complex vitamins". British Journal of Nutrition. 44 (3): 211–4. doi:10.1079/bjn19800033. PMID 7437404.
  5. "Hyperkeratosis". Dorland's Medical Dictionary for Health Consumers. 2007.
  6. James, William D.; Berger, Timothy G.; Elston, Dirk M.; et al. (2006). "Clinical diagnosis by laboratory methods". Andrews' diseases of the skin: clinical dermatology (10th ed.). Saunders Elsevier. ISBN 0-7216-2921-0.
  7. Rapini, Ronald P.; Bolognia, Jean L.; Jorizzo, Joseph L. (2007). Dermatology: 2-Volume Set. St. Louis: Mosby. ISBN 978-1-4160-2999-1.
  8. Freedberg, et al. (2003). Fitzpatrick's Dermatology in General Medicine. (6th ed.). McGraw-Hill. ISBN 0-07-138076-0.
  9. synd/1036 at Who Named It?
  10. Cheng J, Syder AJ, Yu QC, Letai A, Paller AS, Fuchs E (September 1992). "The genetic basis of epidermolytic hyperkeratosis: a disorder of differentiation-specific epidermal keratin genes". Cell. 70 (5): 811–9. doi:10.1016/0092-8674(92)90314-3. PMID 1381287.
  11. Hwang, Schwartz (Sep 2008). "Keratosis pilaris: a common follicular hyperkeratosis". Cutis. 82 (3): 177–80. PMID 18856156.
  12. Mosby's Dental Dictionary
  13. Tyldesley WR, Field A, Longman L (2003). Tyldesley's Oral medicine (5th ed.). Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0192631470.
Classification
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