What is Hyperkeratosis?
This is a skin thickening normally occurring in females with skin that is brown. It is caused by too much buildup of keratin in the outer layers of skin. The thickening of this skin defends it from rubbing, irritation as well as pressure. Most of the types of this condition are painless. While hyperkeratosis can happen anyplace on the body there are several regions that are typically more prone.
Hyperkeratosis Symptoms
Symptoms of this condition usually depend upon the form of hyperkeratosis. Calluses, corns, as well as plantar warts can be quite painful. In some individual they may just be because of their unsightliness
Often hyperkeratosis can just develop on its own, minus any obvious cause, containing areas that are large on the skin. In these instances, hyperkeratosis normally starts quickly after birth as portion of a disorder that is genetic.
Depending on the cause as well as the location involved, hyperkeratotic skin can be also known as calluses or corns, which is when skin stiffens on the toes, palms or soles following continually irritation possibly ancillary to the wearing of shoes that are too tight in the case of the feet; or warts, which are bumpy small skin thickenings triggered by HPV or human papillomavirus, happening anyplace on the body but most often on the feet, face, hands or parts of recurrent contact.
Hyperkeratosis can look:
- Itchy, scaly patches, bluish-purple – Lichen planus
- Whitish spots in the mouth due to friction from dentures
- Chronic inflammation of the skin known as eczema triggered by irritating allergies, chemicals, or other factors
- Scaly dry skin with areas of color changes
- Hair loss.
- Red, flat coarse skin patches – actinic keratosis
- Small harmless brown or black skin growth of unknown causes
Hyperkeratosis Causes
Hyperkeratosis is a form of keratosis. Keratosis is a disorder of the skin caused by the overproduction of keratin. Hyperkeratosis is linked with qualitative abnormality of the keratin and causes thickening of the stratum corneum or the horny layer of the skin. Thickening of this layer causes the granular layer to thicken also. This is usually due to constant rubbing, friction together as well as applied pressure. This causes the skin to harden. Chronic pressure in tissue causes production of keratin to counter the friction. This is really basically a defense mechanism of the body that protects skin from wearing out. It affects different body regions. It can affect the elbow, palms, soles of the feet, knees as they are the areas most subjected to pressure.
It is also believed that hyperkeratosis is caused by deficiency in vitamin A and chronic exposure to arsenic.
Hyperkeratosis Treatment
Any treatment of hyperkeratosis normally depends on the cause, location, type as well as severity. Many treatments have a goal of softening the keratin as well as removing the thickened skin. This can be accomplished with topical creams containing as an active ingredient salicylic acid, together with urea, Tretinoin, lactic or glycolic acid. On brown skin, hyperkeratosis is normally linked to discoloration and skin lightening cream can also be used.
Salicylic acid, that is one of the more common medications for hyperkeratosis, is a keratolytic agent that means it breaks up or lyses the keratin. It as well enhances shedding of the thickened skin and softens it. One prescription form of salicylic acid is Salex Cream or Lotion, and is time-released as opposed to being spike-released, reduces loss of water from the skin as well as increases hydration of the skin.
Urea topical lotions as well as creams treat hyperkeratosis by increasing water content in the skin therefore softening it. Urea can also break up or lyses components of the keratin. The alpha-hydroxy acids, glycolic and lactic acid exfoliate the layers of thick keratin as well as also add moisture to the skin. Finally, Tretinoin is used in the treatment of hyperkeratosis by increasing the shedding of the thickened skin.
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Other treatments depending on the location or type include:
Calluses or corns
Use of padding or moleskin next to the area that is affected may help to relieve any pain.
Warts
Removal by freezing with liquid nitrogen – cryosurgery, vaporizing them with a laser as well as trimming them away surgically.
Chronic eczema
Corticosteroid ointment or cream rubbed into the affected area
Lichen planus
Corticosteroid creams or ointment
Actinic keratoses
Your doctor may use cryosurgery to remove just a single spot of actinic keratosis. Multiple areas of keratoses can be treated with laser therapy, skin peels or dermabrasion
Seborrheic keratosis
Removed with a scalpel or by using cryosurgery
Inherited conditions
No cure for conditions that are inherited. To manage large areas bathe with bath oil or rub special emollients into the skin
Hyperkeratosis Pictures
