Stucco Keratosis- keratosis alba

What is Stucco Keratosis?

• Stucco keratosis, also know as keratosis alba, are benign, unusual
  growths on the skin.  They typically affect:
• The lower extremities
• In older individuals they are especially common in the ankles
• They are usually asymptomatic (do not display symptoms even though
  a condition is present) and often it will go unrecognized
• At this time the cause of stucco keratosis is unknown
• Studies have shown that some types of human papillomavirus (HPV)
  infection is present in 20% of rapidly growing skin warts.

What are some features of this condition?

• Gray-white elevations on the skin, however pink and yellow shades have
  been noted
• They are typically found on the lower extremities of older adults, especially
  the ankles
• Lesions are stuck on and when scraped off there can be minimal bleeding
• Thickening of the skin
• Rippling appearance of the skin
• Mild wart- like growths
• There may only be one lesion, but usually there are multiple and may number
  in the hundreds
• Lesions are usually small;
• They are usually first observed after the age of 40
• Men are 4 times as likely as women to be affected by this condition
• There are no known conditions that are associated or predispose an individual
  to stucco keratosis
• Many affected patients have manifestations of sun damage there for sun exposure
  has been proposed as a factor in the development of stucco keratoses
• This feature may also be a reflection of the age of patients

Are there any treatments for stucco keratosis?

• Currently treatment of this condition is still lacking however experimental studies
  have used the following treatments in attempts to help combat this condition
• Topical 5% imiquimod cream-This in an immune response modifier and
  has been reported to be successful but only in few patients
• Scraping the lesion-This procedure is usually easy and minimal if any
  bleeding occurs
• Cryotherapy-Applying extreme cold to the site of the lesions
• Electro-desiccation-Drying the tissue using a high-frequency electric
  current applied with a needle-shaped electrode
• Etretinate, a retinoid drug usually used to treat severe psoriasis
• Usually individuals undergo treatment for cosmetic reasons however; lesions
  that present symptoms may require removal
• Although these treatments are available, your body might not necessarily
  respond to them
• It is important to ask Dr. Cleaver what treatments are available for you.

Information gathered from British Journal of Dermatology 2000; 143: 846-850