Dermatosis papulosa nigra (DPN) is a condition of many small, benign

skin lesion A skin condition, also known as cutaneous condition, is any medical condition that affects the integumentary system—the organ system that encloses the body and includes skin, nails, and related muscle and glands. The major function of this ...

s on the face, a condition generally presenting on dark-skinned individuals. DPN is extremely common, affecting up to 30% of Black people in the US.Grimes PE, Arora S, Minus HR, Kenney JA Jr. Dermatosis papulosa nigra. Cutis. Oct 1983;32(4):385-6, 392. From a histological perspective, DPN resembles seborrheic keratoses. The condition may be cosmetically undesirable to some. Despite its great frequency, DPN was firstly described and named only in 1925 by Italian tropicalist doctor Aldo Castellani. They should not be confused for Leser-Trélat sign, a sudden explosion of lesions due to a growing tumor.

Pathophysiology

The pathophysiology of DPN is unknown. Evidence of family history may suggest a genetic propensity.

Treatment

DPN lesions are benign and no treatment generally is indicated unless lesions are cosmetically undesirable. Surgical options including curettage, cryotherapy and laser therapy are options. Scarring, postoperative skin discoloration or

keloid Keloid, also known as keloid disorder and keloidal scar, is the formation of a type of scar which, depending on its maturity, is composed mainly of either type III (early) or type I (late) collagen. It is a result of an overgrowth of granulation t ...

formation are potential complications. Therefore, conservative DPN treatment is advisable.

Prognosis

DPN is not a pre-malignant condition nor is it associated with any underlying systemic disease. DPN lesions show no tendency to regress spontaneously, and often increase in size and number as an individual ages.

Epidemiology

DPN affects up to 35% of the African American population in the USA.Dunwell P, Rose A. Study of the skin disease spectrum occurring in an Afro-Caribbean population. Int J Dermatol. Apr 2003;42(4):287-9. Insufficient data is available on the international frequency of DPN. Lesions generally emerge during puberty, increasing steadily in number and size as an individual ages. The incidence of DPN lesions increases with age. Black people with a fair complexion have the lowest frequency of involvement. DPN also occurs among Asians and Polynesians, although the exact incidence is unknown. Females are affected more frequently than males. Dermatosis papulosa nigra generally emerges in adolescence and is rarely in persons younger than 7 years.Babapour R, Leach J, Levy H. Dermatosis papulosa nigra in a young child. Pediatr Dermatol. Dec 1993;10(4):356-8.

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