Confluent and Reticulated Papillomatosis Successfully Treated with Topical Vitamin A Derivative

Area of Science:

• Dermatology
• Clinical Medicine

Background:

• Confluent and Reticulated Papillomatosis (CARP) is a rare skin condition affecting adolescents and young adults.
• CARP presents with characteristic hyperkeratotic papules forming a reticulated pattern on the trunk and neck.
• The exact cause of CARP is unknown, but disordered keratinization is a leading hypothesis.

Observation:

• A 17-year-old male presented with asymptomatic, progressive brownish skin lesions on his trunk over six months.
• Clinical and histopathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of CARP.
• The patient had no other significant health issues.

Findings:

• Treatment with topical tretinoin 0.025% cream applied once daily resulted in complete resolution of CARP lesions within 8 weeks.
• No relapse was observed during a 2-month follow-up period.
• The successful treatment supports the hypothesis that CARP is a keratinization disorder.

Implications:

• Topical tretinoin demonstrates efficacy in treating CARP, supporting its role as a keratinization disorder.
• This topical treatment offers a potentially safer alternative to systemic therapies for CARP.
• Early initiation of topical tretinoin may be a reasonable therapeutic approach for CARP when feasible.