Eruptive vellus hair cyst presenting as asymptomatic follicular papules on extremities

Abstract

Eruptive vellus hair cysts were first described in 1977. They usually appear as yellow to reddish-brown papules on the chest. Usual onset is between ages 17 and 24 years, but they may be congenital. Some believe that they may be inherited as an autosomal dominant disorder. Histologically the cyst has a stratified squamous epithelium and it contains laminated keratin and vellus hairs. They are felt to be caused by an abnormality at the infundibular level of the vellus hair. We present this because of this patient's unusual distribution of eruptive vellus hair cysts.

An alternative diagnostic method of eruptive vellus hair cysts: Report of a familial case with pruritus

“…Eruptive vellus hair cysts (EVHC) represent a sporadic developmental abnormality of vellus hair follicles (Khatu, Vasani, & Amin, ). It was originally described by Esterly and colleagues () and since then more than 200 cases have been published in the literature, but it may be more common than has been recognized (Torchia, Vega, & Schachner, ).…”

“…EVHC may occur anywhere but frequently found on anterior chest, abdomen and upper extremities (Torchia et al, ). Generally, the lesions are asymptomatic, but they may be associated with itching and, occasionally, tenderness and seem to affect white individuals more than other races with a slight female predominance (1.3:1) (Khatu et al, ).…”

“…The diagnostic hallmark being the presence of vellus hair shafts within the cystic space. The histopathologic picture of lesions show a mid‐dermal cyst lined by stratified squamous epithelium made up of a variable number of layers, containing an inconstant, thin, and/or discontinuous granular layer, and filled with laminated keratin and variable numbers of transversally and obliquely cut vellus hair shafts (Khatu et al, ; Torchia et al, ).…”

Eruptive Vellus Hair Cysts: A Case and Review of Literature

“…Pakionişi konjenita, Lowe sendromu, kronik renal yetmezlik, ekrin poroma, sebase adenom ve ektodermal displazi ile beraberliği olan olgular da bildirilmiştir. Olgumuzda başka bir dermatolojik ve sistemik hastalık eşlik etmiyordu (1,6).…”

“…Medikal tedavide topikal retinoik asit, %10 üre, laktik asit, kalsipotriol ve sistemik isotretinoin tedavileri kullanılmaktadır (1,8). Literatürde cerrahi olarak, lezyonların ince koter ucu veya bistüri ile insizyonu ve drenajı yapılan olgular bildirilmiştir.…”