Fibrous Tissue Abnormalities – Dermatofibroma

Dermatofibromas are a benign fibrous tissue abnormality that I routinely encounter in both my The Woodlands dermatology and Conroe dermatology offices.  Dermatofibromas, also called Fibrous Histiocytomas, appear clinically as hyperpigmented firm papules.  They typically appear on the extremities and upper trunk and may arise from trauma to the skin such as an insect bite or folliculitis.  A unique feature of Dermatofibromas is that when pinched they form a transient indentation in the skin due to their underlying fibrosis that acts as a tether, which has been referred to as the “dimple sign.”  Dermatofibromas are most often found in adults and rarely appear in childhood.  Multiple Dermatofibromas (over 10) can be seen in conditions such as HIV, CML, Lupus and treatment with immunosuppressive drugs.  As these lesions are benign, no treatment is needed but can be accomplished with surgical excision if desired.