Is Keratoderma curable?

Inherited palmoplantar keratodermas are not curable but symptoms can be controlled. The aim of treatment is to reduce the thickness of the skin and to soften the skin.

What is Palmoplantar Keratoderma?

Palmoplantar keratoderma (PPK) is a group of skin conditions characterized by thickening of the skin on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet. PPK can also be a feature of various underlying syndromes. In rare forms of PPK, organs other than the skin may also be affected.

How is Keratoderma treated?

Systemic retinoids (acitretin) Topical vitamin D ointment (calcipotriol) Surgery to remove the skin, followed by skin grafting. Potent topical steroids with or without keratolytics in cases with an inflammatory component.

What causes wooly hair?

Mutations in the JUP, DSP, DSC2, and KANK2 genes cause keratoderma with woolly hair types I through IV, respectively. The JUP, DSP, and DSC2 genes provide instructions for making components of specialized cell structures called desmosomes.

How do you get rid of Keratoderma?

Treatment

  1. Saltwater soaks.
  2. Emollients.
  3. Paring (cutting away layers of skin)
  4. Topical keratolytics (useful for people with limited keratoderma)
  5. Topical retinoids (this is often limited by skin irritation)
  6. Systemic retinoids (acitretin)
  7. Topical vitamin D ointment (calcipotriol)

When does punctate palmoplantar keratoderma first appear?

Punctuate keratodermas result in tiny bumps of thickened skin on the palms and soles and usually appears in late childhood or early adulthood. What causes punctate keratodermas? Punctate keratodermas are inherited by an autosomal dominant pattern (the abnormal gene is passed on from an affected parent).

Can a child with palmoplantar keratoderma be deaf?

There is also an extremely rare genetic mutation that causes a combination of disorders known as palmoplantar keratoderma with deafness. Children affected by this condition develop hearing loss, particularly for high-pitched sounds, at around the same time the skin on their soles and palms begins to thicken.

Is there a cure for hereditary palmoplantar keratoderma?

Treatment of both hereditary and acquired palmoplantar keratodermas (PPK) is difficult. [1] The goal of treatment is to soften the thickened skin and make it less noticeable. [2] In many cases, treatment only results in short-term improvement and often has unwanted side effects. [1]

What does it mean when you have keratoderma on your feet?

Focal: With this condition, the keratoderma appears at pressure points, i.e., areas of the feet that bear significant weight or that are subject to friction when we walk. Diffuse: Also known as Vorner’s disease, this condition tends to result in a uniform pattern of keratoderma across the skin of the soles and palms.