WHAT IS FAVRE RACOUCHOT SYNDROME?Favre -Racouchot syndrome isn't actually a syndrome or a disease, but rather a skin change that occurs with age, primarily caused by years of exposure to sunlight. Favre-Racouchot syndrome, or Favre-Racouchot disease, is characterized by sun-damaged skin and blackheads .
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| Favre-Racouchot syndrome |
Favre-Racouchot syndrome |
Favre-Racouchot syndrome |
WHAT DOES FAVRE RACOUCHOT SYNDROME LOOK LIKE?The skin changes that occur with Favre-Racouchot syndrome are primarily on the face (cheeks and nose, around the eyes, on the temples), and sometimes on the neck. This makes sense because it's thought to be caused by sunlight exposure, and the face is exposed to the sun all day. The skin is thickened, wrinkled, stiff (no longer soft and supple), sometimes somewhat yellowish, and has deep grooves. There are also numerous blackheads, usually black. Blackheads (also known as comedones) are visible as black dots in the skin. They are dilated hair follicles with a horny plug inside. Sometimes the hair follicle is completely blocked, and yellowish, translucent bumps develop. On the neck, the skin can become leathery, thickened, and have deep grooves in a diamond-shaped pattern. It occurs primarily in men, especially those who work outdoors a lot. Smoking may also play a role.HOW DOES FAVRE RACOUCHOT SYNDROME DEVELOP?Favre-Racouchot syndrome is caused by chronic exposure to sunlight (ultraviolet light). This damages the elastic fibers in the skin, causing it to lose its elasticity. This results in wrinkles. Skin aging caused by sunlight is also called solar elastosis or photoaging . In addition, the skin thickens due to the accumulation of connective tissue and its breakdown products. Smoking may also play a role. Cigarette smoke contains components such as tar and chlorinated hydrocarbons (dioxins). These substances can promote the development of blackheads.HOW IS THE DIAGNOSIS MADE?The diagnosis is based on the clinical picture, its appearance. The combination of skin aging and blackheads is typical and doesn't match anything else.HOW IS FAVRE RACOUCHOT SYNDROME TREATED?Blackheads can be removed by a skin therapist. The skin can be made somewhat thinner and more supple by applying a vitamin A acid cream (tretinoin cream 0.025% or 0.05%) daily. This cream also somewhat prevents the formation of new blackheads. Vitamin A acid cream thins the stratum corneum. The disadvantage of these creams is that they can cause mild skin irritation. There are also certain lasers, such as the fractional CO2 laser, that can achieve cosmetic improvements. This treatment is expensive and is not covered by health insurance.WHAT CAN I STILL DO ABOUT FAVRE RACOUCHOT'S DISEASE?Don't stay out in the bright sun unprotected for too long, and quit smoking. However, this won't eliminate the existing damage, which has accumulated over many years. |
