Dermatosis Papulosa Nigra (DPN) is a very common, benign skin condition that typically presents as small, dark brown or black bumps on the face, neck, and upper chest. While they are often mistaken for moles or warts, they are actually a clinical variant of seborrheic keratoses.
The exact cause of DPN isn’t fully understood, but some factors play a dominant role:
- Genetics: This is the most significant factor. If your parents or grandparents had DPN, you are prone to developing it. Research suggests a link to a change in the FGFR3 gene.
- Aging: These spots can appear as early as adolescence and tend to increase in both size and number as a person ages.
A common reason for patients seeking treatment is that the lesions make them look/ feel older. - Darker skin type: Studies suggest that between 10% and 35% of African Americans are affected, though some clinical surveys have reported incidence rates as high as 70% to 77% in certain groups.
It is also frequently seen in individuals of Asian, Polynesian, and Hispanic descent, though often at slightly lower frequencies than in Black populations. - Gender Predominance: Women are often reported to be affected twice as frequently as men.
- UV Exposure: While not the primary cause, sun exposure can exacerbate the condition or darken the lesions, making them more prominent.
Best Treatment for Dark Skin Types
When treating DPN in darker skin tones (Fitzpatrick scales IV-VI), the primary concern is minimising Post-Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation (PIH) and scarring. Because the goal is purely cosmetic, the “best” treatment is the one that minimizes trauma to the surrounding healthy skin.
Electrodessication offers an excellent safety profile whilst providing good results in the treatment of DPN.
After much research and 22 years of experience in skin lesions treatment, this is our treatment of choice that we offer our patients at the Interface Clinic.
The treatment is carried out with local anaesthetic injected into the skin just beneath the lesions and then a low power but high frequency current is used to dessicate the lesions.
