Is Staphylococcus epidermidis Involved in the Etiopathogenesis of Pitted Keratolysis?

Authors

  • Stefano Veraldi Dermatological Centre in Milan, Milan, Italy https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0985-3590
  • Rossana Schianchi European Institute of Dermatology, Milan, Italy
  • Italo Francesco Aromolo Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0996-6963
  • Gianluca Nazzaro Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.2340/actadv.v106.adv-2025-0136

Keywords:

pitted keratolysis, infection, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis

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References

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Rubel LR. Pitted keratolysis and Dermatophilus congolensis. Arch Dermatol 1972; 105: 584–586. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1001/archderm.1972.01620070056021

Woodgyer AJ, Baxter M, Rush‐Munro FM, Brown J, Kaplan W. Isolation of Dermatophilus congolensis from two New Zealand cases of pitted keratolysis. Australas J Dermatol 1985; 26: 29–35. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1440-0960.1985.tb01811.x

Gillum RL, Qadri SM, Al-Ahdal MN, Connor DH, Strano AJ. Pitted keratolysis: a manifestation of human dermatophilosis. Dermatologica 1988; 177: 305–308. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1159/000248584

Hänel H, Kalisch J, Keil M, Marsch WC, Buslau M. Quantification of keratinolytic activity from Dermatophilus congolensis. Med Microbiol Immunol 1991; 180: 45–51. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00191700

Da Fonseca FA. Pitted keratolysis – The role of Dermatophilus congolensis. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol 1996: S134. 7. Nordstrom KM, McGinley KJ, Cappiello L, Zechman JM, Leyden JJ. Pitted keratolysis. The role of Micrococcus sedentarius. Arch Dermatol 1987; 123: 1320–1325. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1001/archderm.1987.01660340082025

Longshaw CM, Wright JD, Farrell AM, Holland KT. Kytococcus sedentarius, the organism associated with pitted keratolysis, produces two keratin-degrading enzymes. J Appl Microbiol 2002; 93: 810–816. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2672.2002.01742.x

Schneider G, Schweitzer B, Kovács T. Bacillus thuringiensis: a causative agent of pitted keratolysis. Australas J Dermatol 2021; 62: e609–e611.

Tilgen W. Pitted keratolysis (keratolysis plantare sulcatum). Ultrastructural study. J Cutan Pathol 1979; 6: 18–30. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0560.1979.tb00302.x

Wohlrab J, Rohrbach D, Marsch WC. Keratolysis sulcata (pitted keratolysis): clinical symptoms with different histological correlates. Br J Dermatol 2000; 143: 1348–1349. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2133.2000.03934.x

Shelley WB, Shelley ED. Coexistent erythrasma, trichomycosis axillaris, and pitted keratolysis: an overlooked corynebacterial triad? J Am Acad Dermatol 1982; 7: 752–757. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0190-9622(82)80158-8

Conti Díaz IA, Peluffo I C, Calegari L, Sanabria D, Viegas MC. Queratólisis en hoyuelos (pitted keratolysis) a forma hiperqueratósica y aislamiento del agente etiológico: Corynebacterium sp. Med Cutan Ibero Lat Am 1987; 15: 157–160.

Rho NK, Kim BJ. A corynebacterial triad: Prevalence of erythrasma and trichomycosis axillaris in soldiers with pitted keratolysis. J Am Acad Dermatol 2008; 58: S57–8. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaad.2006.05.054

Zaias N. Pitted and ringed keratolysis. A review and update. J Am Acad Dermatol 1982; 7: 787–791. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0190-9622(82)70162-8

Published

2026-03-02

How to Cite

Veraldi, S., Schianchi, R., Aromolo, I. F., & Nazzaro, G. (2026). Is Staphylococcus epidermidis Involved in the Etiopathogenesis of Pitted Keratolysis?. Acta Dermato-Venereologica, 106, adv–2025. https://doi.org/10.2340/actadv.v106.adv-2025-0136

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