Keratosis pilaris

Keratosis pilaris
Other namesFollicular keratosis, lichen pilaris
Condition on a calf
SpecialtyDermatology

Keratosis pilaris (KP; also follicular keratosis, lichen pilaris, or colloquially chicken skin[1]) is a common, autosomal-dominant, genetic condition of the skin's hair follicles characterized by the appearance of possibly itchy, small, gooseflesh-like bumps, with varying degrees of reddening or inflammation.[2] It most often appears on the outer sides of the upper arms (the forearms can also be affected), thighs, face, back, and buttocks;[2] KP can also occur on the hands, and tops of legs, sides, or any body part except glabrous (hairless) skin (like the palms or soles of feet).[3] Often the lesions can appear on the face, which may be mistaken for acne[4] or folliculitis.

The several types of KP have been associated with pregnancy, type 1 diabetes mellitus, obesity, dry skin, allergic diseases (e.g., atopic dermatitis), and rarely cancer.[1] Many rarer types of the disorder are part of inherited genetic syndromes.[1]

The cause of KP is not completely understood. As of 2018, KP is thought to be due to abnormalities in the process of depositing the protein keratin in hair follicles, abnormalities in the hair shaft, or both.[1] KP is usually diagnosed by a medical professional based on the appearance of the skin, but dermoscopy can be used, as well, if the diagnosis is unclear.[1] Variants of the ABCA12 gene have been associated with KP.[5]

KP is the most common disorder of the hair follicle in children.[1] How common it is in adults is unclear since keratosis pilaris is an underreported condition and the actual prevalence of the condition may be higher than estimated.[6] No single approach has been found to completely cure KP, but treatments can improve the cosmetic appearance of the condition. Treatment includes the application of topical preparations of moisturizers and medications such as glycolic acid, lactic acid, salicylic acid, urea, or retinoids to the skin.[1] Fractional carbon dioxide lasers and Nd:YAG laser therapies are also effective.[1]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Cite error: The named reference Wang2018 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ a b Panchaprateep R, Tanus A, Tosti A (March 2015). "Clinical, dermoscopic, and histopathologic features of body hair disorders". Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. 72 (5): 890–900. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2015.01.024. PMID 25748313.
  3. ^ Alai, Nili. "Keratosis Pilaris (KP)". MedicineNet. Retrieved 2008-10-06.
  4. ^ Berman, Kevin. "Keratosis pilaris". MedlinePlus. Retrieved 2008-06-19.
  5. ^ Liu F, Yang Y, Zheng Y, Liang YH, Zeng K (September 2018). "Mutation and expression of ABCA12 in keratosis pilaris and nevus comedonicus". Molecular Medicine Reports. 18 (3): 3153–3158. doi:10.3892/mmr.2018.9342. PMC 6102636. PMID 30066947.
  6. ^ Pennycook KB, McCready TA (June 27, 2022). "Keratosis Pilaris". Keratosis Pilaris in StatPearls. StatPearls. PMID 31536314.