Kerathodermia Aquagenica - A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Aquagenic keratoderma (AK) is a rare acquired and transient disorder of stil unknown etiology. This keratoderma is characterized by the appearance of whitish or translucent papules and folds on the skin of the palms and soles, after contact with water. It more commonly affects younger women, although men with this condition have also been reported. It is benign in nature but impacts the quality of life for those affected and causes discomfort when engaging in "water" sports. The term "watersport hands" has been proposed, although, as you will see in the text, this keratoderma already has many synonyms. We present a patient with aquagenic keratoderma. We conducted a detailed review of the literature on the etiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis and therapeutic modalities of this rare keratoderma. A healthy 22-year-old woman was examined due to the appearance of skin changes three minutes after contact with water. Initially, there were white, round lesions with a sense of discomfort, followed by folds on the fingertips. The skin changes last for about forty minutes, gradually resolving as the skin dries. Based on clinical examination before and after exposure to water, dermoscopic findings, and histopathological examination, the diagnosis of AK was established.