DISSEMINATED EPIDERMOLYTIC ACANTHOMAS

A 39-year old male developed multiple verrucous papules on his back fo llowing a severe sunburn. Both the clinical features and pathology wer e typical for disseminated epidermolytic acanthomas. These benign skin lesions resemble the papules of Darier's disease, seborrhoic keratose s or verrucae planae. The light-exposed skin of the back is the site o f predilection. Electron microscopy reveals a premature and altered co rnification of keratinocytes. Epidermolytic acanthomas are acquired, h armless lesions and must be differentiated from more serious, congenit al ichthyoses of the skin, showing the same histopathologic picture.