Causes of Keratosis Follicularis
Keratosis follicularis is genetic and occurs because a certain gene mutates. Your cells receive the information necessary to produce proteins that support the body’s general functions from your genes. These instructions are compromised when a certain gene is altered.
The combination of genes for a specific trait on the chromosomes inherited from both the mother and the father causes genetic disorders. When an aberrant gene is required in just one copy for the disease to manifest, the condition is known as dominant genetic disease. The faulty gene may come from a novel variant (gene alteration) in the afflicted person or it may be inherited from either parent. With every pregnancy, there is a 50% chance that the afflicted parent’s aberrant gene will be passed onto the offspring. Both men and women are at equal risk.
The gene most associated with the disease is the ATP2A2 gene [3], which is responsible for providing instructions to create a specific type of enzyme known as sarco-/endoplasmic reticulum calcium-ATPase2 (SERCA2). This enzyme is what helps to control how many positively charged calcium atoms make their way into cells.
Other triggers for keratosis follicularis
Keratosis follicularis can go into remission, which means people with the disorder can be free of symptoms at times. However, certain factors can trigger a flare-up, they include:
- Skin friction
- Exposure to heat or sunlight
- Certain medications
- Minor injuries to the area
- Excessive sweat