Keratosis is a skin disease that is more genetic in nature, but can occur due to a number of external factors. Disease affects both adults and children. The treatment methods for large and small patients are different. How to prevent the development of complications of the disease, for what reasons keratosis, symptoms and treatment of pathology occur - the reader will find information on these and other issues in our article.
What is keratosis?
Keratosis includes a whole group of dermatological diseases, the most characteristic manifestation of which is a thickening of the epidermis. Pathology does not have a viral nature of origin, but rather is a consequence of a certain complex of provoking factors. These include:
- Dry skin, which is considered the main cause of the pathology. If the skin is not moistened, the dead scales will not exfoliate properly, thereby creating a favorable soil for the onset of a painful condition. The cause of dryness can be the frequent use of household detergents, as well as abuse of tan (ultraviolet dries the skin);
- Lack of vitamins A, C, E in the body can provoke metabolic disorders and lead to keratosis;
- Taking hormonal drugs generates cell renewal and leads to the onset of the disease. A pathological condition can also occur during puberty in adolescents, as well as during pregnancy, when hormonal changes in the body occur and keratin production increases;
- The cause of keratosis can be diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, as well as stress, which causes vitamin B deficiency in the body, the lack of which leads to dry skin.
Relationship with Oncology
Surely many have heard of a disease such as keratosis. What it is, however, is far from everyone. In fact, the pathology leads to the appearance on the skin of a person with keratoma - benign neoplasms (single or multiple). To date, the opinions of experts about the disease and the causes of its occurrence are ambiguous, doctors are divided into two camps. Some argue that the causes of the onset of the disease are purely genetic in nature. Others do not exclude the involvement of pathological factors above. Accordingly, the answers to questions about how to treat keratosis will also vary.
One way or another, there is a relationship between keratosis and skin cancer. Keratoma has a benign nature, however, there are frequent cases when cancer cells develop in its structures. Neoplasms are little distinguishable from each other, so it is visually difficult to determine the type of pathology (cancer or keratosis). What is this will help establish only a histological examination. In almost all cases, the procedure is resorted to when making a diagnosis.
Multiple foci of keratosis may indicate the presence of cancer in the internal organs. There are certain statistics, according to which among 9 thousand examined patients with keratoma, 900 people have revealed various forms of skin cancer.
Classification
The disease "keratosis" is divided into groups in accordance with various signs. For example, by the nature of origin, there are:
- Symptomatic keratosis - a pathology occurs against the background of other diseases, as well as under the influence of adverse environmental factors;
- Hereditary keratosis is a pathology that is formed for genetic reasons and usually manifests itself at an early age or immediately after birth;
- Acquired keratosis is a disease whose causes are not fully understood.
Depending on how keratomas appear on the body, they distinguish:
- Localized keratosis - the disease affects a specific area of the skin;
- Diffuse keratosis - the disease covers the entire body or very large areas of the skin.
Also distinguish:
- Follicular keratosis, in which foci of the disease (horn plugs) form in the hair follicle;
- Actinic keratosis is uneven, rough spots on the skin that gradually transform into scaly foci from the color of the normal skin tone to reddish brown;
- Seborrheic keratosis is a nodular formation covered with dark-colored horny scales.
Types of seborrheic keratosis
Seborrheic keratosis is also divided into several forms:
- The illustration below reflects keratoma, which rises slightly above the surface of the skin and is characterized by a strong pigment - we are talking about pathology called “flat keratosis” (photo). The treatment of such a neoplasm is removed surgically;
- Irritated keratosis is a type of disease in which the internal structures of a benign formation contain large accumulations of lymphocytes. Tumor content can only be determined by histological analysis;
- Adenoid keratosis - manifestations of the disease in the form of a network of thin pigmented cells;
- Clear cell melanocanthoma is a rare type of keratosis, which is manifested by warty formations that have a rounded shape and look like wet plaques. Melanoacanthomas occur mainly on the lower extremities;
- Lichenoid keratosis. What it is? A pathology in which the neoplasm is characterized by inflammatory changes and is similar in manifestations to mycoses or erythematosis with lupus erythematosus. Similar foci on the skin can also occur with lichen planus.
Other forms of keratosis
Medical practice is also known:
- keratotic papilloma,
- skin horn
- clonal keratosis.
Keratotic papilloma is a form of pathology that manifests itself in small formations consisting of single cysts with inclusions from horn cells;
Skin horn is a form of keratosis that is considered quite rare. Pathology is manifested by formations of horn cells of a conditionally cylindrical shape protruding above the surface of the skin. The disease affects mainly the elderly. Swelling, which may be different in size, is classified into two subspecies:
- Primary - by the appearance of this pathology there is not enough information, it can appear spontaneously, for no apparent reason;
- Secondary - pathology occurs against the background of the inflammatory process in other skin formations. It is this form of the skin horn that can degenerate into a malignant formation under the influence of viruses or microtraumas;
Clonal keratosis. What it is? This type of pathology is similar to epithelioma and refers to a special form of the disease, for which plaques in the form of warts are inherent . In addition, nests are located in the epithelial layer of the tumor. The formations themselves consist of keratinocytes - pigmented cells. Clonal keratosis mainly appears on the lower extremities and mainly in the elderly.
Main symptoms
The most obvious signs of keratosis are neoplasms (single or multiple) that appear in open areas of the skin - the back, chest, and forearm. Sometimes the disease can affect the neck, scalp, back of the hand, genital area. There are rare cases when the pathology appears on the soles of the feet. The size of a benign tumor can vary from a few mm to several cm. The formation most often takes a rounded shape, its borders are clearly outlined. It is possible that at the location of the tumor, the patient may experience itching.
Neoplasms, as a rule, have a pink or yellow hue, however, they can be dark brown or black. The surface of the tumor is rough, covered with a thin film, when blood is removed or damaged. Gradually, the film becomes thicker, can become covered with cracks. With a thickening of the crust, the edges of the tumor change and take an irregular shape. The neoplasm in this case becomes too convex, with black or light spots.
Risk group and complications
The following group of people is more susceptible to the disease:
- immunocompromised patients (after chemotherapy, patients with AIDS or blood disease),
- people with a genetic predisposition
- elderly people with dry skin,
- representatives of countries with a warm climate and plenty of sunny days per year,
- keratosis is often diagnosed in people with fair skin and red hair.
In the treatment of keratosis, early screening is important, therefore, before the diagnosis is made:
- general examination of the patient;
- histological examination of the taken biomaterial.
Keratosis is a disease that is treated sequentially and takes a long period of time. The neglected stages of the disease can cause various complications:
- The degeneration of benign tumors into cancer;
- Pathology causes a malfunction in the endocrine system, as well as nerve trunks and endings;
- Pathology can lead to tooth loss;
- Against the background of keratosis, microbial eczema often appears .
Treatment methods
As a rule, in the treatment of keratosis, the most effective methods are surgical. But only if the manifestation of the pathology is represented by individual elements in open areas of the body. Conservative treatment methods have little effect, although often in order to stop the progression of the pathology, large doses of ascorbic acid are prescribed to the patient.
I must say that this measure leads to a positive trend in treatment. Therapy is carried out in courses lasting up to two months. Between the stages of treatment, you need to take breaks of several weeks to give the body a rest. Course therapy helps to prevent new foci of the disease called keratosis in the future. Treatment with folk remedies is a purely additional measure to the above two.
Manifestations of keratosis are removed using various manipulations:
- Laser or radio wave radiation;
- Cryodestruction is a treatment technique based on the effect of liquid nitrogen on the affected areas of the skin. This procedure is used mainly in the event of multiple keratomas;
- Chemical peeling - trichloroacetic acid (in pure form or a solution in various proportions) is used for the procedure;
- Electrocoagulation - a technique that uses electric current in the treatment of affected areas of the body;
- Curettage is a curettage procedure using a special metal instrument (curette).
Children are susceptible to the disease along with adults. In most cases, small patients are diagnosed with follicular keratosis, which occurs in the area of the hair bulb. The cause of the development of a painful condition can be the cold season; lack of vitamins in the body; diseases of the gastrointestinal tract; daily stress at school or in the family. Nodular rash, which resembles "goosebumps", manifests follicular keratosis in children. A photo of a similar manifestation of the disease is shown in the illustration below.
The diagnosis is established on the basis of an examination; additionally, a study of biological material can be conducted. Often, conservative treatment is aimed only at eliminating a cosmetic defect. The main goal of therapy is to moisturize the skin and exfoliate keratinized particles using special creams and ointments.
Prevention
It is important to remember that in the event of any pathological conditions it is impossible to self-medicate. You should immediately consult a specialist and find out what violations have occurred in the body.
It is necessary to consult a doctor if:
- the neoplasm has changed its shape size, coloring in a short period of time,
- the neoplasm is inflamed, or its injury has occurred,
- non-healing or bleeding areas appeared on the skin,
- at the site of keratoma localization, pain or persistent itching is felt.
In order to prevent pathology should:
- Undergo periodic consultations with a dermatologist;
- To be in the sun only during authorized hours and to protect the skin from ultraviolet radiation;
- Make sure that the skin is always moisturized - for this you can use various cosmetics;
- Avoid prolonged skin irritation due to tight shoes or uncomfortable clothing.
Tumors do not disappear on their own, over time they only progress.
Recipes of traditional medicine for keratosis
As noted earlier, alternative medicine can only become an additional measure for conservative (surgical) therapy and only after establishing the correct diagnosis. Treatment of keratosis at home involves the use of various ointments and compresses based on potatoes, propolis, yeast. For example, propolis cover the affected areas of the skin (it is necessary to apply the product in a thin layer) for several days. Then they give the skin a rest, and after a while they again perform a similar procedure. The course of treatment consists of several cycles.
The use of raw potatoes is considered effective in the fight against keratosis. The fruit is rubbed on a fine grater, laid in several layers of gauze and applied to the affected areas of the skin for 40-60 minutes. The procedure is repeated using fresh potatoes.
Live compresses are often used for compresses. The product is applied to problem areas for several hours, then rinsed with plenty of water. The course of treatment is repeated for five days.
Physiotherapy can also be an integral part in getting rid of the manifestations of the disease. However, the most important in the treatment of the disease is daily skin care.