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Hyperkeratosis is a broad term. And odds are good that you either have, or will have, some form of it at some point in your life. But if you’ve heard the term, you might not really know much about it. And if you’ve had a form of it before, you might not have known that it was hyperkeratosis.
But the condition can range from a minor annoyance to a sign of a serious health condition. That’s why learning more about the condition can help you know whether or not you should be concerned. So, what exactly is hyperkeratosis? What causes it? And what can you do to treat it?
What Is Hyperkeratosis?
Hyperkeratosis is a condition where the outer layer skin becomes thicker. You see, there are actually three layers of the skin. The first layer is called the subcutis. This layer of the skin sits directly over the layer of fat that your body keeps as an emergency energy reserve. This layer cushions the skin against the rest of the body and helps to generate new skin cells that then work their way into the outer layers.
The second layer is called the dermis. The dermis contains a number of blood vessels that regulate your body’s internal temperature by releasing and storing heat. In addition, this layer helps to anchor the hair follicles. Finally, the dermis serves to glue the other two layers of the skin together and keep it strong and elastic.
The top layer is called the epidermis. The epidermis serves as a barrier to the body, keeping away dangerous bacteria and protecting the other layers of the skin. The epidermis also produces a tough, protective substance called keratin. But sometimes, the epidermis produces too much keratin, causing thick, hard growths on the surface of the skin. This extra keratin is the source of hyperkeratosis.
What Causes It?
There are a number of things that can cause the condition. It can sometimes be as simple as irritation. Your skin naturally produces more keratin as a response to frequent rubbing or pressure against the skin. An example might be someone who bikes frequently developing a rough patch under the skin where their helmet strap rubs against the chin. Another would be corns or calluses that develop on the feet if you frequently wear tight shoes that rub against the toes.
But there are a number of different forms of hyperkeratosis. Some, like warts, are caused by a viral infection of the skin. Others can be caused by allergies.
And some of the most common kinds of hyperkeratosis are caused by chronic inflammation of the skin. The most common reason that someone would suffer from this condition is an autoimmune condition, where the immune system begins attacking the tissue of the skin. The skin then grows thicker as a response.
This is the mechanism behind conditions like psoriasis, which leads to chronic skin plagues all over the body.
To diagnose what form of hyperkeratosis, your doctor will likely ask a few questions about your lifestyle and family history. There are a few different things that can cause hyperkeratosis like a family history of the condition, allergies, tobacco use, or frequent sun exposure. The doctor will then likely do a visual inspection of the area affected to determine what’s causing your hyperkeratosis.
Luckily, there are ways to treat most forms of hyperkeratosis.
How Can You Treat It?
How your form of hyperkeratosis is treated will depend on what it is. For something like a wart or callus, the process is fairly simple. A dermatologist can usually remove these kinds of skin growths by either scraping them away or using liquid nitrogen to freeze it off.
But for a form caused by some sort of chronic inflammation, like psoriasis, the treatment will be different. For psoriasis, doctors usually prescribe some kind of anti-inflammatory medication like corticosteroids. Corticosteroids are a form of hormone that your body naturally produces to fight inflammation. But your doctor can also prescribe artificial forms of this hormone to help your body’s natural response.
Otherwise, you can avoid thickening of the skin with some simple precautions. Avoid going barefoot in public showers to avoid plantar wart infections. And wear loose fitting shoes to prevent the growth of calluses.
Finally, if you’re suffering from allergies that lead to skin inflammation, you can usually solve the issue by avoiding allergens or using anti-allergen medication.
So, do you have hyperkeratosis? What do you do to treat it? Let us know in the comments.
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