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Common skin conditions
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For each of the ten cases, study the image(s) and then answer the questions. You can click on the image to view a larger version if required.
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What is this condition?
This is facial keratosis pilaris, which is given various names depending on the appearance and subsequent atrophy. These include keratosis pilaris atrophicans faciei, ulerythema oophyrogenes (when eyebrows are affected), and atrophoderma vermiculata (when honeycomb scarring arises).
What other areas should be examined?
The upper arms and thighs are the most common sites to be affected by keratosis pilaris. Horny keratinous plugs surround vellous hairs in these areas. There may be surrounding erythema.
Is there any useful treatment?
There appears to be no very successful treatment. Various keratolytic regimes have been recommended but are generally disappointing. Topical tretinoin or oral isotretinoin are occasionally helpful but may also aggravate keratosis pilaris.