Keratoacanthoma Information - Symptoms and Treatment

Keratoacanthoma is a type of skin tumor which is quite common. A keratoacanthoma is a skin growth that is round and firm, like a pimple, but has a solid center made up of keratin. Keratin is a protein found in human hair and nails. A keratoacanthoma often starts at the site of a minor injury to sun damaged skin. At first it may appear as a small pimple or boil and may be squeezed but is found to have a solid core. It then grows rapidly and by the time it is brought to the attention of the doctor may be up to 2cm in diameter.

Keratoacanthoma is a common skin tumor. At first it may appear as a small pimple or boil and may be squeezed but is found to have a solid core. It then grows rapidly and by the time it is brought to the attention of the doctor may be up to 2cm in diameter. In the past it was regarded as benign, but some of these tumors have been seen to transform into squamous cell carcinoma. Keratoacanthoma is now regarded and treated by many as a malignant growth. It is characterized by very rapid enlargement, followed by a stable period, and then a slow, natural regression. A keratoacanthoma can look exactly like a true skin cancer, a squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), or less commonly like a basal cell carcinoma (BCC).

What are the causes of Keratoacanthoma ?

Sun exposure is a prime cause in developing of Keratoacanthoma. It appears that keratoacanthomas arise from a single hair follicle as they are only seen on hair-bearing skin, not on the palms, for instance. A minor injury seems to be required to trigger off a keratoacanthoma but this is often either not apparent or unremembered by the patient. Cells start multiplying in the hair follicle and the cell mass grows into a keratoacanthoma.Some keratoacanthomas appear to be related to infection with human papilloma virus, the cause of warts.Untreated, a true keratoacanthoma will go on growing for several months, reach a maximum size then self-destruct over several more months. Various chemical carcinogens (cancer-causing chemicals) have been shown to contribute to its incidence. KAs occur much more frequently in men than in women, usually in their 70s.

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