Clinical features and treatment of dermatosis papulosa nigra in migrants to Italy.
Dermatosis papulosa nigra (DPN) is a benign epithelial tumor that is common in dark-skinned people. Although the diagnosis is easily made on medical examination, DPN is characterized by a chronic and worsening course. Therefore, even if DPN is a benign disease, the lesions are unaesthetic and the therapeutic options are quite inefficient. A prospective study was carried out during a period of 24 months (January 2006 to December 2007) at the Department for Preventive Medicine for Migration, Tourism and Tropical Dermatology of San Gallicano Dermatological Institute in Rome. Among 58 patients, 41 (71%) were women and 17 (29%) were men. The mean age was 33.5 years (range, 8-45 years). One pediatric patient was observed. This study is the first in Italy that, in recent years, has observed an important growth of the migration. The classic female predominance, family predisposition, and photodistribution of the lesion were found. DPN is frequently associated with patient discomfort, therefore the education of patients to reduce self-treatment is important.
National Institute for Health, Migration and Poverty, Via di San Gallicano 25/a Roma, Italy. calcaterra@inmp.it
Roberta
R
Calcaterra
Gennaro
G
Franco
Mariacarla
M
Valenzano
Raffaella
R
Fazio
Aldo
A
Morrone
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants; D005148:Facial Dermatoses / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D044469:Racial Groups; D012307:Risk Factors; D012880:Skin Pigmentation; D055815:Young Adult