It is a very common picture with small papules formed as a result of keratinization disorder of the hair follicle. It is considered to be inherited in an autosomal dominant manner. It is more common in atopic individuals.
It usually occurs during childhood or adulthood. Lesion distribution; outer surface of the arms and legs, buttocks or in the face area. Depending on the plug in the mouth of the follicle from which the hairs come out, the follicle mouths make pink-brown pinhead-sized bumps. Blisters called acne-like pustules may also form on it.
Redness and follicular swellings called erythema in cheek area lesions may cause skin depressions called atrophy while healing. This rash is more prominent in fair-skinned individuals. There may be involvement up to the eyebrows, ears and neck area and may cause hair loss in the eyebrows. Even in male patients with cheek involvement, beard sparseness or absence can be observed.
Lesions may be permanent and rarely regress. It tends to decline in hot and humid climates.
Diagnosis is made by clinical picture.
As a differential diagnosis; facial lesions acne rosacea, lupus malar (butterfly) rash, poikiloderma and syndromes should be considered.
In the treatment; moisturizers, creams containing urea, salicylic acid, lactic acid, glycolic acid, tretinoin can be used.
In addition, fractional CO2 lasers can be used for follicular swelling, and IPL (Intense pulse light) and PDL (Pulse Dye laser) lasers can be used for redness.
