Keratoacanthoma

Keratoacanthoma is a common skin condition. Keratoacanthoma (KA) is a relatively common low-grade malignancy that originates in the pilosebaceous glands and closely and pathologically resembles squamous cell carcinoma. 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. Often, they are treated to avoid further involvement or destruction of underlying tissue. They are of concern because of the similarity to squamous cell cancer.

Multiple keratoacanthomas

There are some rare conditions in which multiple keratoacanthomas appear. These are:

Ferguson-Smith familial keratoacanthoma : More common in men, there are large and sometimes ulcerated self-healing lesions.

Grzybowski eruptive keratoacanthomas: Thousands of very itchy keratoacanthomas appear on the skin and mucosal surfaces and can result in significant deformity.

Symptoms of Keratoacanthoma

The symptoms of Keratoacanthoma are based on the development of small white papules the size of a grain of sand on the upper arms, thighs, and occasionally the buttocks and face. Here are the common Symptoms of Keratoacanthoma:

fine, bumpy texture to skin over the outer upper arm and thigh or elsewhere

bumps the size of a grain of sand and skin colored

slight pinkness may be seen around some bumps