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Skin Disorders and Treatment
Acrochordons
Acanthosis Nigricans
Actinic keratosis
Allergic Contact Dermatitis
Alopecia Areata
Anal Warts
Angioma
Amoebiasis
Aphthous Ulcer
Athlete's Foot
Atopic Dermatitis
Baldness
Blackheads
Blue Nevi
Browen's Disease
Bullous Pemphigoid
Candidiasis
Cavernous Hemangioma
Cellulite
Chilblains
Chapped Lips
Cracked Heels
Cysts
Dandruff
Dark Circles
Dermatitis Herpetiformis
Dermatitis
Dermatofibroma
Dry Lips
Dyshidrotic Eczema
Eczema
Enlarged Pores
Epidermolysis Bullosa
Erythroderma
Eye Stye
Facial Rashes
Fibroadenoma
Flexural Psoriasis
Fordyce's Condition
Folliculitis
Freckles
Furunculosis
Genital Herpes
Granuloma Annulare
Grovers Disease
Hand Dermatitis
Heat Rash
Herpes Simplex
Herpes Zooster
Hidradenitis Suppurativa
Hirsutism
Hot Tub Folliculitis
Ichthyosis
Impetigo
Ingrown Toe Nail
Intertrigo
Keloid
Keratoacanthoma
Keratosis Pilaris
Leucoderma
Lichen Planus
Lichen Sclerosus
Lichen Simplex Chronicus
Lichen Straitus
Liver Spots
Lupus Erythematosus
Lymes Disease
Lymphomatoid Papulosis
Mastocytosis
Melasma
Morton's Neuroma
Mucocutaneous Candidiasis
Necrobiosis Lipoidica Diabeticorum
Paget's Disease
Pemphigus Vulgaris
Pityriasis Versicolor
Pityriasis Rosea
Pruritis Ani
Shingles
Tinea Versicolor
Tinea Cruris
Venous Angioma
Vulvodynia
Xerosis
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Keratoacanthoma
Keratoacanthoma (KA) is a relatively common, benign, epithelial tumor that was previously considered to be a variant of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Keratoacanthoma typically grows rapidly, attaining 1-2 cm within weeks, followed by a slow involution period lasting up to 1 year and leaving a residual scar if not excised preemptively. Since expedient therapy almost always is instituted, the true natural course of the tumor cannot be confirmed with certainty. Keratoacanthomas are more common in people who smoke. A keratoacanthoma often starts at the site of a minor injury to sun damaged skin. At first it may appear as a small pimple or boil and may be squeezed but is found to have a solid core. Sometimes minor trauma to the skin occurs before the development of a keratoacanthoma. Treatment options include surgical excision, electrodessication and curettage, and multiple medical techniques. Topical 5% fluorouracil cream applied three times a day for 1 to 6 weeks has been found to be effective. Excellent results have been reported with 5-fluorouracil injections. This technique is especially useful for large rapidly growing KA's. Podophyllin resin, methotrexate intralesional injections, and radiotherapy are effective for giant KA's. Oral isotretinoin and oral etretinate have been shown to be useful in treating patients with multiple KA's.
Keratoacanthoma is basically a skin disease typical to youth, but Keratoacanthoma may occur to the people at any age. A keratoacanthoma is a skin disrdered growth that is round and firm, like a pimple, but has a solid center made up of keratin. Keratin is a protein found in human hair and nails. A Keratoacanthoma lesion, also called "KA" by dermatologists, contains keratin and may look much like a red or pink volcano with an eruptive central plug of compact or breaking scale. They are more common in men. The KA is considered a form of squamous-cell carcinoma by most authorities.
Causes of Keratoacanthoma
Common Causes of Keratoacanthoma :
- The cause of the Keratoacanthoma is unknown.
- Sunlight is thought to be a factor in the development of keratoacanthomas
- The definitive cause of KA remains unclear; however, several potentiating factors should be considered.
- Trauma, human papilloma virus genetic factors, and immunocompromised status also have been implicated as etiologic factors.
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Keratoacanthomas are more common in people who smoke.
- Industrial workers exposed to pitch and tar have been well established as having a higher incidence of KA.
- Sometimes minor trauma to the skin occurs before the development of a keratoacanthoma.
Symptoms of Keratoacanthoma
Some common Symptoms of Keratoacanthoma :
- Slight pinkness may be seen around some bumps.
- Bumps the size of a grain of sand and skin colored.
- Fine, bumpy texture to skin over the outer upper arm and thigh or elsewhere.
Treatment of Keratoacanthoma
- Keratoacanthomas are a type of skin cancer related to squamous cell carcinoma of the skin, so the recommended treatment is to have them removed surgically. Sometimes the biopsy will remove the whole tumor. If the tumor starts to come back after the skin biopsy, then the area will require surgical excision or sometimes a destructive technique such as liquid nitrogen is used. .
- Freezing If a keratoacanthoma is small it may be treated by freezing with liquid nitrogen with a spray or on a cotton wool swab.
- Another treatment that has also been effective is the use of 5-fluorouracil injections. These injections are given at the site of the skin growth. They are used for growths that are in their later stages.
- Skin growths should always be checked by a doctor because of the possibility of skin cance.
- Sometimes a large keratoacanthoma is treated by radiotherapy . Several visits over a period of days are usually required. The treatment is quite painless. A scab then forms and drops off after several weeks.
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Skin Treatments