If hyperkeratosis began to develop, then some areas of the skin have time to become keratinized and the pathological process affects the palms, feet, elbows, as well as other areas of the skin on the patient’s body. At the same time, one should not exclude the progressive form of lip hyperkeratosis. This disease is prone to a chronic course, so it must be treated in a timely manner when the first symptoms occur. With a strong thickening of the stratum corneum of the epidermis, you should immediately consult a dermatologist for help, after which you should undergo a full examination of your body, excluding the effects of pathogenic microflora. As a rule, the use of cosmetic creams alone is not enough to combat this problem. But what is hyperkeratosis? What are the symptoms of this disease. For what reasons can a person develop this ailment? What is the treatment for hyperkeratosis? These and many other questions will be answered in this article.
What is hyperkeratosis?
Hyperkeratosis is a pathological process that occurs with the stratum corneum of the skin. Considering what hyperkeratosis is, it is also worth noting that abnormal keratinization of the skin is preceded by some changes in the structure of the epidermis: keratin cells begin to multiply very quickly and do not exfoliate, due to which the dermis is partially or completely covered by strongly keratinized spots.
This disease in most cases manifests itself in the form of the formation of small cracks. What is hyperkeratosis and how else can this ailment manifest in a person? As a rule, foci of pathology are accompanied by soreness, desquamation of the upper layer of the epidermis is impaired, and local sensitivity is also reduced. A photo of skin hyperkeratosis can be seen in our article.
Causes of the disease
If a person unexpectedly noticed in himself a thickening of the skin on the fingers or on another area of the body, then it is necessary to study the etiology of the pathological process that has appeared, while eliminating pathogenic factors. All causes of the disease are conditionally divided into exogenous and endogenous, they have a different degree of severity. If we talk about the endogenous causes of hyperkeratosis, then those provoking factors that require treatment of the underlying disease should be attributed to this. These factors include the following phenomena:
- The presence of a fungal disease of the nails.
- Hypothyroidism, as well as other endocrine ailments.
- Genetic predisposition of the patient.
- Skin diseases starting from psoriasis and ending with red hair deprivation.
- Flat feet, atherosclerosis, varicose veins, as well as other diseases of the legs.
- Violation of the menstrual cycle in women.
- Vitamin imbalance in the body.
- Obesity and overweight.
- Chronic diseases of the genitourinary system.
As for the exogenous provoking factors of the disease, in most cases they relate to the environment. But they can also cause the development of hyperkeratosis. Such exogenous provoking factors include:
- Wearing synthetic and tight clothing.
- Abuse of tanning.
- Contact with any aggressive detergent.
- Abuse of bad habits.
- Chemical and mechanical damage to the skin.
Types of Hyperkeratosis
Considering the features of skin hyperkeratosis, the photo of which is presented in this article, it should also be mentioned that the disease is divided into several varieties. First, the patient complains of the formation of goosebumps, but after that he notices the most extensive areas of the disease. In order to start treatment of hyperkeratosis in a timely manner, it is necessary to study the classification of this disease. According to its localization, the pathological process is divided into the following forms:
- Follicular hyperkeratosis. During this pathological process, follicles are affected. The disease rapidly spreads to the buttocks, elbows, back, hips, chest, and head.
- Lenticular hyperkeratosis. This form of the disease affects the elbows, lower legs, thighs, upper limbs, auricles, as well as the mucous membrane in the oral cavity.
- Nail hyperkeratosis. Hyperkeratosis of the nails develops on the legs, and the feet are also involved in this pathological process. Separately, experts distinguish the subungual form of hyperkeratosis, which also has a fungal origin.
- Hyperkeratosis of the feet. Hyperkeratosis on the legs, in particular on the feet, manifests itself in the form of cracking on a hard surface. For example, a person may have corns, and also the entire skin of the foot can become completely keratinized.
Symptoms of the disease
To clearly understand what this disease is, it is worth looking at the photo of hyperkeratosis. However, this pathological process has certain symptoms. They arise due to the multiplication of cells with keratin. The symptomatology of the disease gives the patient severe pain, as well as persistent itching. The main symptoms of hyperkeratosis of the epithelium are as follows:
- Peeling and severe dryness of the skin.
- Redness of soft tissue with a thickening of the nail plate.
- Aesthetic defect that cannot be eliminated with cosmetic procedures.
- Strong roughness of the dermis.
- Discomfort when walking.
Follicular
During desquamation of dead cells, the pathological process is accompanied by the formation of obstruction of the follicular duct and the formation of epidermal flakes. In the case of hereditary prerequisites, follicular hyperkeratosis manifests itself 2 times more often. At the same time, it can be an independent ailment, and also act as a symptom of some more serious disease. The main distinguishing features of this form of the disease are as follows:
- Acne in case of hyperkeratosis of the face.
- Excessive dryness of the skin in certain areas.
- Thickening of the dermis.
- Vast areas of pyoderma.
- The rim of hyperemic skin.
Diffuse
The main feature of this form of the disease is the ability to completely affect the skin, while causing severe peeling and dryness on large areas of the body. The diffuse form of hyperkeratosis manifests itself in the form of cracking, inflammation of the squamous epithelium. The most dangerous symptom is a change in the upper layer of the epidermis. In most cases, hyperkeratosis of the skin of the legs is observed, which is accompanied by the following symptoms:
- Inflammation of certain areas of the foot and severe pain.
- Derma Seal.
- Peeling and hardening of the heels.
- Hyperemia of the skin.
- Visible areas with epidermal flakes.
Warty
This disease can be acquired or hereditary, this form of hyperkeratosis differs in the formation of peculiar warts on the dermis. Other symptoms of the warty form of the disease include the following aesthetic defects, as well as internal changes regarding the general well-being of the patient:
- The formation of crusts and cracks.
- Abundant rashes of yellow color.
- Changing the structure of the upper layer of the epidermis.
- Severe pain when walking.
- The risk of degeneration of neoplasms into a malignant form.
Lenticular
This form of hyperkeratosis is extremely rarely diagnosed. In most cases, it is observed in representatives of the stronger sex in retirement age. In the affected areas, small yellowish plaques form, which after opening leave small depressions in the skin. There is no pain at all, therefore, these symptoms can be called mostly cosmetic defects. The main signs of lenticular hyperkeratosis are as follows:
- Neoplasm on the skin.
- The size of the plaques reaches 0.5 cm in diameter.
- The predominance of severe itching.
- Single foci of the pathological process.
- The formation of a dry yellow crust.
Seborrheic
On the upper layers of the epidermis appear small spots with a greasy crust. On palpation, they are dense, have a homogeneous structure, but at the same time they can unite into an extensive focus of the pathological process. The characteristic symptoms of a seborrheic form of hyperkeratosis are as follows:
- Elevated foci of the pathological process bulging above the surface of the skin.
- The increase in the resulting spots in size.
- Spots are pinkish or yellowish.
- Hyperemia of the skin.
- Severe itching, as well as internal discomfort.
Disseminated
Externally, this form of the disease is somewhat similar to hairs that appear in groups or alone on the upper layers of the epidermis. Using mechanical peeling, you can mask the resulting foci of the pathological process, but this method will not solve the problem with the patient’s health. The main features of this disease, which is prone to a chronic course with recurring periods, are as follows:
- Aesthetic visible defect.
- Formations on the body of individual hairs or in groups of up to 6 units.
- Isolated foci of the pathological process.
- Hyperemia of the skin.
- Increased puffiness of the skin.
Treatment features
To treat hyperkeratosis of the skin on the sole, first of all, it is necessary to eliminate the problem with shoes, for example, choose a more comfortable pair made of natural materials. If the focus of the disease is localized on another area of the body, then it is necessary to do the same with your clothes, temporarily abandoning the fitting models. This is especially true for those patients who have diabetes, as well as problems with the thyroid gland, as they are among the very first at risk of developing diseases. As for other recommendations regarding the treatment of hyperkeratosis in a child and an adult, they are as follows:
- It is only necessary to use cosmetic procedures in a full course, due to which it will be possible to get rid of keratinized layers of cells, thereby providing an aesthetic effect. Choosing a peeling for yourself, you should seek the help of a dermatologist who will help to rule out a possible allergy to certain medicinal products.
- As for medicines, specialists in this case focus on the use of local and systemic corticosteroids that can solve this health problem both internally and externally. In addition, it is necessary to take multivitamin complexes, which must necessarily contain vitamins of groups A and D.
- To cure ichthyosis, dermatologists advise their patients to pay special attention to therapeutic ointments and gels made on the basis of natural and plant components. In parallel with this, you can use traditional medicine methods, but before that you should make sure that there is no allergic and local reaction to medicinal and home formulations.
- Treatment of follicular hyperkeratosis cannot be carried out without the mandatory use of systemic medications in a full course, since the main cause of the disease can be found in fungal infections that enter the human body, as well as in an exacerbation of the infectious process.
- If the patient is at risk, it is necessary to take timely care of measures regarding prevention. Otherwise, with extensive focal hyperkeratosis, a person will suffer for a long time, experiencing severe itching, pain and a feeling of internal discomfort.
Features of prevention
Hyperkeratosis of the legs is often a consequence of any other disorders in the human body, so the initial stage of prevention is to identify these disorders and their treatment. Among the remaining very effective means, it is worth highlighting:
- Wearing comfortable shoes and clothes.
- Regular hygiene of the feet and the whole body.
- Add to your daily diet foods that are rich in vitamins A and C, such as spinach, carrots, lemon, cauliflower.
- Weight Loss.
- Reduce stressful situations.
- Proper nutrition.
Hyperkeratosis in children
Quite often, hyperkeratosis is congenital in children. But the disease can manifest itself in early childhood in a child. Hyperkeratosis can develop as a separate disease, and also be a symptom of some other ailment of the skin, for example, a fungal infection or lichen planus. And also a similar phenomenon in some cases is the result of arsenic poisoning. Determining the main reason can only be done by a specialist when he fully examines and examines the baby. After this, appropriate therapy is prescribed, in which the result of the examination and the age of the child are taken into account.
In conclusion, it is worth noting that such an unpleasant skin disease as hyperkeratosis of the legs gives the patient not only unpleasant painful symptoms, but also a strong aesthetic discomfort. Therefore, when the first signs of this skin disease appear, you need to seek help from a specialist who should identify the main cause of the development of the disease, and then prescribe the appropriate treatment. In order for hyperkeratosis to never affect you, you must adhere to the simple preventative recommendations that have been described above.