WHAT IS DERMATOSIS PAPULOSA NIGRA?Dermatosis papulosa nigrais the medical term for small, dark brown to black, wart-like bumps that can appear on the face of people with dark skin. Dermatosis means skin disease, papulosa means bump, and nigra means black. It is a harmless condition that is common.WHAT DOES DERMATOSIS PAPULOSA NIGRA LOOK LIKE?Small (1-2 mm) black or brown bumps gradually develop on the face (on the cheeks, forehead), and sometimes on the neck or upper half of the body, especially on the chest. These bumps can increase in number and size with age. Sometimes large, stalked, wart-like lesions appear.
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| dermatosis papulosa nigra |
dermatosis papulosa nigra |
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| dermatosis papulosa nigra |
dermatosis papulosa nigra |
HOW DOES DERMATOSIS PAPULOSA NIGRA DEVELOP?The exact cause of dermatosis papulosa nigra is still unknown. It is thought to be a variant of seborrheic keratosis, but pigmented (darker colored). There is a difference, however: dermatosis papulosa nigra primarily affects the face and chest, while seborrheic keratosis affects the entire body. Heredity certainly plays a role in dermatosis papulosa nigra, as it only occurs in certain breeds and can run in families. A final theory is that these bumps begin to grow spontaneously because a genetic defect has occurred in the cells, causing them to react strongly to growth factors present in the body.WHO GETS DERMATOSIS PAPULOSA NIGRA?Dermatosis papulosa nigra occurs in people with dark skin. It can also occur in people of Asian descent. It begins around puberty.HOW IS DERMATOSIS PAPULOSA NIGRA TREATED?Dermatosis papulosa nigra is a harmless condition, and treatment isn't really necessary. If there are a lot of them, or if they are very large, removal is sometimes desired for cosmetic reasons.
There are several methods to remove the bumps. The simplest method is cauterization (electrocoagulation). This involves numbing the skin with a small amount of anesthetic injected directly beneath the bump. The bump is then gently touched with a small metal ball that heats the tissue, and then wiped off completely with a coarse gauze.
Instead of an injection, an anesthetic cream (EMLA cream) can be applied, which is removed shortly before cauterization. You will then receive a prescription for one or more tubes of EMLA cream. Apply the cream in a thick layer 30-45 minutes before the procedure and cover it with clear plastic wrap.
Another technique involves burning away the bumps with a laser, for example, a (fractional) CO2 laser.
The bumps can also be cut off at the skin level with a razor blade or clipped off with scissors (especially if they are very prominent).
Treatment usually improves the appearance significantly, but it's important to be aware that all these bump removal techniques can cause slight color variations, leaving both darker and lighter areas.
The treatment for dermatosis papulosa nigra is considered cosmetic. This means it is not covered by health insurance. |
