Diagnosing Keratosis Follicularis
The diagnosis of keratosis follicularis requires a physical examination of the afflicted area. As part of the inquiry process, a medical professional will go over your medical history and any additional symptoms you may be having.
An oral examination looks for lesions in the mouth or throat, while blood tests search for signs of illness. Lastly, a skin biopsy is frequently performed to provide a closer look at the cells causing the lesions. This procedure involves taking a sample of skin for study in a lab. A biopsy may reveal abnormal formation of keratin tissue (keratinization) and failure of cell-to-cell adhesion (acantholysis).
Given that the skin condition is genetically based, a thorough family history is obtained as part of the diagnosis procedure. This helps medical professionals assess your risk for this illness as well as others. Since keratosis follicularis is an autosomal dominant trait, a child’s likelihood of acquiring the defective gene from their parent is 50%.