dermatosis papulosa nigra
{{Infobox medical condition (new)
| name =
| synonym =
| image =
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption = Dermatosis papulosa nigra
| pronounce =
| specialty =
| symptoms =
| complications =
| onset =
| duration =
| types =
| causes =
| risks =
| diagnosis =
| differential =
| prevention =
| treatment =
| medication =
| prognosis =
| frequency =
| deaths =
}}
Dermatosis papulosa nigra (DPN) is a condition of many small, benign skin lesions on the face, a condition generally presenting on dark-skinned individuals.{{cite book |author=Odom, Richard B. |author2=Davidsohn, Israel |author3=James, William D. |author4=Henry, John Bernard |author5=Berger, Timothy G. |author6=Clinical diagnosis by laboratory methods |author7=Dirk M. Elston |title=Andrews' diseases of the skin: clinical dermatology |publisher=Saunders Elsevier |year=2006 |isbn=0-7216-2921-0 }}{{rp|638–9}} DPN is extremely common, affecting up to 30% of Black people in the US.Grimes PE, Arora S, Minus HR, Kenney JA Jr. Dermatosis papulosa nigra. Cutis. Oct 1983;32(4):385-6, 392. From a histological perspective, DPN resembles seborrheic keratoses.{{cite book|last=Johnstone|first=Ronald B.|title=Weedon's Skin Pathology Essentials|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NTE_DAAAQBAJ&pg=PA511|year=2017|publisher=Elsevier|isbn=978-0-7020-6830-0|edition=2nd|page=511|chapter=31. Tumors of the epidermis}} The condition may be cosmetically undesirable to some. Despite its great frequency, DPN was firstly described and named only in 1925 by Italian tropicalist doctor Aldo Castellani.Castellani A, Observations on Some Diseases of Central America. Proc R Soc Med. 1925;18(Sect Trop Dis Parasitol):2–11.
They should not be confused for Leser-Trélat sign, a sudden explosion of lesions due to a growing tumor.
Pathophysiology
The pathophysiology of DPN is unknown. Evidence of family history may suggest a genetic propensity.
Treatment
DPN lesions are benign and no treatment generally is indicated unless lesions are cosmetically undesirable. Surgical options including curettage, cryotherapy and laser therapy are options.Kauh YC, McDonald JW, Rapaport JA, Ruschak PJ, Luscombe HA. A surgical approach for [http://www.dpntreatment.co.uk dermatosis papulosa nigra] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171101005254/http://www.dpntreatment.co.uk/ |date=2017-11-01 }}. Int J Dermatol. Dec 1983;22(10):590-2. Scarring, postoperative skin discoloration or keloid formation are potential complications. Therefore, conservative DPN treatment is advisable.
Prognosis
Epidemiology
DPN affects up to 35% of the African American population in the USA.Dunwell P, Rose A. Study of the skin disease spectrum occurring in an Afro-Caribbean population. Int J Dermatol. Apr 2003;42(4):287-9. Insufficient data is available on the international frequency of DPN. Lesions generally emerge during puberty, increasing steadily in number and size as an individual ages. The incidence of DPN lesions increases with age.{{Citation needed|date=December 2018}} Black people with a fair complexion have the lowest frequency of involvement. DPN also occurs among Asians and Polynesians, although the exact incidence is unknown. Females are affected more frequently than males. Dermatosis papulosa nigra generally emerges in adolescence and is rarely in persons younger than 7 years.Babapour R, Leach J, Levy H. Dermatosis papulosa nigra in a young child. Pediatr Dermatol. Dec 1993;10(4):356-8.
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.emedicine.com/derm/topic99.htm eMedicine.com article on DPN]
{{Diseases of the skin and subcutaneous tissue}}