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Granular Parakeratosis: A Comprehensive Review and a Critical Reappraisal

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Abstract

Granular parakeratosis (GP) is a rare, idiopathic, and benign skin condition that presents classically as erythematous to brown hyperkeratotic papules that can coalesce into plaques. Axillary GP was initially observed by Northcutt and colleagues and has since been described in various other areas of the body including other intertriginous and non-intertriginous sites. The term “granular parakeratosis” is now used to describe not only the skin condition, but also a distinctive histological reactive pattern on biopsy specimens that are either regarded as the disease itself, or merely as an incidental finding. Upon review of the current findings, opinions, and associations of this entity, we propose the reappraisal of GP as a reactive pattern, rather than a distinct entity.

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Author notes

    Authors and Affiliations

    1. Department of Dermatology, State University of New York at Downstate, 450 Clarkson Ave, Brooklyn, NY, 11203, USA

      Catherine Y. Ding, Hannah Liu & Amor Khachemoune

    2. Dermatology Service, Department of Dermatology, Veterans Affairs Medical Center and State University of New York, 800 Poly Place, Brooklyn, NY, 11209, USA

      Amor Khachemoune

    Authors
    1. Catherine Y. Ding
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    2. Hannah Liu
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    3. Amor Khachemoune
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    Correspondence to Amor Khachemoune.

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    No funding was received for the preparation of this review.

    Conflict of interest

    Catherine Y. Ding, Hannah Liu, and Amor Khachemoune have no conflicts of interest.

    Additional information

    C. Y. Ding and H. Liu contributed equally to this manuscript.

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    Ding, C.Y., Liu, H. & Khachemoune, A. Granular Parakeratosis: A Comprehensive Review and a Critical Reappraisal. Am J Clin Dermatol 16, 495–500 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40257-015-0148-2

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    • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40257-015-0148-2

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