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Skin diseases are nowadays one of the most common diseases that affect people of all ages, both children and adults. One of the popular skin diseases is keratosis. Find out what is characterized by keratosis, how to recognize it, and how this popular ailment can be treated.
Skin hornet – what is it?
Rogowiec is a disease that affects children, adolescents and adults alike. It can be both related to another disease, then it is secondary, as well as inherited from parents. This disease is characterized by specific changes in the skin of the hands and feet that are the result of hyperkeratosis. These lesions take the form of yellow-colored lumps that sometimes crack. Skin keratosis has many varieties, but keratosis always affects the skin of the hands and feet. Often, keratosis is detected in infants and young children, but it also happens later.
How is skin keratosis manifested?
The skin keratosis is characterized by a characteristic keratinized epidermis that appears on the palms and soles of the feet. Often the lumps are yellow in color, they crack. This ailment is unbearable not only because of its unsightly symptoms, but above all because it can lead to further health problems. In young children, keratosis can inhibit their normal development, for example, making it impossible to walk. Sometimes it also happens that apart from the skin of the hands and feet, the cornea also takes up the nail plates, which leads to their deformation and thickening. In rare cases, the cornea also causes changes to the hair, cornea and teeth. People with this ailment are often also associated with excessive sweating.
What are the causes of keratinization of the skin?
A keratosis in the skin of the hands and feet can have different causes. One of the most common reasons for this is autosomal, and therefore non-gender-specific, inheritance. The hornworm may be inherited predominantly. Then it can be observed in many generations in the family, both in parents and children. The second way of inheritance is recessive inheritance. In this case, the disease is rare in the family, but is rather present in siblings.
However, it is not only inheritance that can cause keratosis. The disease may also be acquired in nature, and may begin as a result of other diseases or a variety of environmental factors.
Varieties of skin hornworm
We can distinguish different types of skin horns. When it comes to the disease with a genetic basis, we distinguish between the disseminated, focal and point varieties. The first variety mainly affects the hands and surfaces of the feet. The focal variety is characterized by keratosis in the area of increased pressure. The third type manifests itself with very small eruptions scattered in the form of spots on the skin of the feet and hands. In very young children, in the first months of life, Mal de Meleda appears, which in addition to the hands and feet may also cover the elbows and knees and pose a threat to the proper development of the child.
As for the acquired variety, it most often occurs as a result of menopause, as well as other skin diseases such as psoriasis, eczema and lichen planus. In some cases, skin keratosis occurs as a result of Sezary’s syndrome, a lymphoma that affects the lymph nodes and skin. It can also happen that keratosis is the result of taking certain medications or developing cancer. In addition, keratosis can be associated with AIDS, mycosis, human papillomavirus, syphilis, tuberculosis, and reactive arthritis.
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Skin hornworm – how to treat?
Cutaneous hornworm usually requires a specialized approach, although in some cases it may resolve on its own. Most often, special ointments containing urea and salicylic acid are used for the callous skin of the hands and the surface of the feet. It is also important to use emollients, i.e. preparations with special moisturizing properties. Appropriate personal hygiene is also extremely important in the treatment of cornea. When it comes to foot changes, it is essential to wear comfortable and safe footwear.
It is not always possible to treat the cornea without complications. Sometimes treatment is arduous and requires a lot of patience. In many cases, the use of vitamin A, both topically and orally, has proven effective. If the disease is secondary, treatment should begin with treating the disease that caused the skin keratosis.