Hyperkeratosis

Medically reviewed by The Dermatologists and written by Dr. Alexander Börve

Hyperkeratosis is the thickening of skin due to irritation from the sun, chemicals or frequent friction or pressure. The skin thickening occurs in the outer layer of the skin, which contains a tough, protective protein called keratin.

It is often part of the skin’s normal protection against rubbing, pressure and other forms of local irritation. Sometimes, hyperkeratosis occurs on skin that has not been irritated. This is a genetically inherited and lifelong condition.

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Symptoms

Hyperkeratosis presents itself in various forms. Here are some examples.

Corns and calluses
Corns and calluses appear when thick layers of dead skin cells pile up and harden. They develop in areas of skin exposed to repeated friction or pressure. This often happens on toes, the soles of the feet and the palms of the hands. They can cause pain for some people.

Chronic eczema
Eczema causes itching, redness and tiny blisters. When the inflammation is difficult to control, chronic eczema can also lead to:

• Dry skin
• Scaling
• Changes in skin color
• Localized hair loss

Read more here.

Lichen ruber planus
This condition may appear as a lacy white patch on the inside of the mouth. Or it may be an itchy, violet, scaly patch elsewhere on the skin. Read more here.

Warts
Warts are small bumps on the skin that are caused by human papilloma virus (HPV) infection. Read more here.

Seborrheic keratoses
These are small, noncancerous skin growths, and can be tan, brown or black. Read more here.

Actinic keratoses
These are flat, red, rough, sandpaper-like spots or patches of skin, caused by excessive exposure to the sun. Read more here.

Epidermolytic hyperkeratosis
This is a dominant form of ichthyosis that occurs since birth. It is characterized by redness and severe hyperkeratosis with small, hard wart-like scales over the entire body.

Follicular hyperkeratosis
This a skin condition characterized by excessive development of keratin in hair follicles, resulting in rough, cone-shaped, elevated pimple-like growth. It is related to deficiencies of vitamins A and E, B complex vitamins, and essential fatty acids.

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What can I do?

Hyperkeratosis can usually be prevented by limiting sun exposure, wearing comfortable shoes, and avoiding irritants like harsh soaps and detergents.

Should I seek medical care?

Most forms of hyperkeratosis are harmless, but if you suspect that there is cancerous growth, you should seek help from a healthcare provider. You should also seek medical care if you have painful thickening that looks like a wart. People with diabetes should have their feet examined regularly by a health professional to avoid skin infections from corns, calluses or warts.

Treatment

Certain hyperkeratosis inflammations can be reduced with corticosteroid creams, but others require laser therapy or surgery. For example, warts can be removed by cryosurgery, laser therapy or excision.

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Source:

Harvard Health Publications. Hyperkeratosis. Drugs.com. Available at: https://www.drugs.com/health-guide/hyperkeratosis.html

Medical Dictionary. Hyperkeratosis. Available at: http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/hyperkeratosis