Successful treatment of lichen spinulosis with topical roflumilast: A case report

Lichen spinulosis is an uncommon, follicular keratotic disorder characterized by asymptomatic clusters of follicular papules with keratotic spines that primarily occurs in children, and rarely in adults. Various treatment options have been reported in the literature, although none are universally effective. Topical roflumilast (0.3%) is a recently approved phosphodiesterase-4 inhibitor first used in psoriasis which has shown reduction in hyperkeratosis in vitro. We report on an adult with symptomatic and recalcitrant lichen spinulosis who achieved significant improvement with the use of topical roflumilast over a 6-month period.

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Publication Details

Journal
SAGE Open Medical Case Reports
Published
2025-12-01
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1177/2050313x251400983
Primary Topic
Genetic and rare skin diseases.
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00
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article

Successful treatment of lichen spinulosis with topical roflumilast: A case report

Justin Chia, Karen Naert, Yitong Xu, Rose He
SAGE Open Medical Case Reports
Genetic and rare skin diseases.
article

Successful treatment of lichen spinulosis with topical roflumilast: A case report

Justin Chia, Karen Naert, Yitong Xu, Rose He
article en

Abstract

Lichen spinulosis is an uncommon, follicular keratotic disorder characterized by asymptomatic clusters of follicular papules with keratotic spines that primarily occurs in children, and rarely in adults. Various treatment options have been reported in the literature, although none are universally effective. Topical roflumilast (0.3%) is a recently approved phosphodiesterase-4 inhibitor first used in psoriasis which has shown reduction in hyperkeratosis in vitro. We report on an adult with symptomatic and recalcitrant lichen spinulosis who achieved significant improvement with the use of topical roflumilast over a 6-month period.

SAGE Open Medical Case ReportsVol. 13
University of Calgary (CA)
Openalex Percentile: Top 60%
Genetic and rare skin diseases.
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