Overview
Focal acral hyperkeratosis is a rare skin condition that causes thickened, firm bumps or plaques to develop on the hands and feet, particularly along the edges of the palms and soles and on the tops of the fingers and toes. The word "acral" refers to the extremities (hands and feet), and "hyperkeratosis" means an overgrowth of the tough outer layer of skin called keratin. This condition is sometimes also called acrokeratoelastoidosis-like disorder or focal acral hyperkeratosis type, and it is closely related to but distinct from a condition called acrokeratoelastoidosis of Costa. The bumps are usually small, round, skin-colored or slightly yellowish, and firm to the touch. They typically appear along the borders of the hands and feet and may slowly increase in number over time. The condition is generally not painful or dangerous, but it can be cosmetically bothersome. Unlike acrokeratoelastoidosis, the skin bumps in focal acral hyperkeratosis do not show breakdown of elastic fibers when examined under a microscope. There is no cure for focal acral hyperkeratosis. Treatment is mainly aimed at managing symptoms and improving the appearance of the skin. Options may include moisturizers, keratolytic creams (which help soften and remove thickened skin), topical retinoids, and occasionally surgical or laser removal of individual lesions. However, the bumps often return after treatment. The condition does not affect internal organs and is not associated with serious health problems.
Also known as:
Key symptoms:
Small firm bumps on the edges of the palmsThickened skin patches on the soles of the feetSkin-colored or yellowish raised bumps on the handsBumps along the sides of the fingersBumps along the borders of the feetGradual increase in the number of bumps over timeRough or waxy texture of the skin bumpsBumps on the tops of the fingers or toesCosmetically noticeable skin changes on hands and feet
Autosomal dominant
Passed on from just one parent; each child has about a 50% chance of inheriting it
Variable
Can begin at different ages, from infancy through adulthood
Treatments
No FDA-approved treatments are currently listed for Focal acral hyperkeratosis.
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Treatment Centers
8 centersBaylor College of Medicine Rare Disease Center ↗
Baylor College of Medicine
📍 Houston, TX
🏥 NORDStanford Medicine Rare Disease Center ↗
Stanford Medicine
📍 Stanford, CA
🔬 UDNNIH Clinical Center Undiagnosed Diseases Program ↗
National Institutes of Health
📍 Bethesda, MD
🔬 UDNUCLA UDN Clinical Site ↗
UCLA Health
📍 Los Angeles, CA
🔬 UDNBaylor College of Medicine UDN Clinical Site ↗
Baylor College of Medicine
📍 Houston, TX
🔬 UDNHarvard/MGH UDN Clinical Site ↗
Massachusetts General Hospital
📍 Boston, MA
🏥 NORDMayo Clinic Center for Individualized Medicine ↗
Mayo Clinic
📍 Rochester, MN
👤 Mayo Clinic Center for Individualized Medicine
🏥 NORDUCLA Rare Disease Day Program ↗
UCLA Health
📍 Los Angeles, CA
Travel Grants
No travel grants are currently matched to Focal acral hyperkeratosis.
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Caregiver Resources
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Questions for your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment
- Q1.How can you be sure this is focal acral hyperkeratosis and not a related condition like acrokeratoelastoidosis?,Is a skin biopsy needed to confirm the diagnosis?,What treatment options are available to reduce the appearance of the bumps?,Will the bumps continue to spread or increase in number over time?,Should other family members be examined for this condition?,Are there any new treatments or clinical trials I should know about?,Is genetic counseling recommended for my family?
Common questions about Focal acral hyperkeratosis
What is Focal acral hyperkeratosis?
Focal acral hyperkeratosis is a rare skin condition that causes thickened, firm bumps or plaques to develop on the hands and feet, particularly along the edges of the palms and soles and on the tops of the fingers and toes. The word "acral" refers to the extremities (hands and feet), and "hyperkeratosis" means an overgrowth of the tough outer layer of skin called keratin. This condition is sometimes also called acrokeratoelastoidosis-like disorder or focal acral hyperkeratosis type, and it is closely related to but distinct from a condition called acrokeratoelastoidosis of Costa. The bumps ar
How is Focal acral hyperkeratosis inherited?
Focal acral hyperkeratosis follows a autosomal dominant inheritance pattern. Genetic counseling can help families understand recurrence risk and testing options.
Which specialists treat Focal acral hyperkeratosis?
4 specialists and care centers treating Focal acral hyperkeratosis are listed on UniteRare, sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov principal investigators, published research, and the NPPES NPI registry.