What skin condition causes craters?

Author: Jo Mayert  |  Last update: Thursday, January 22, 2026

Symptoms of pitted keratolysis include: Smelly feet (bromhidrosis). White patch of skin or a patch that's lighter than your natural skin tone. Pits or tiny indentations in the patch of skin that look like small holes.

Why am I getting craters in my skin?

Pockmarks, which are also called pick marks or acne scars, are blemishes with a concave shape that can look like holes or indentations in the skin. They occur when the deeper layers of the skin become damaged. As these deeper layers heal, extra collagen is produced.

What skin conditions look like craters?

Keratoacanthomas (KAs) are usually benign skin tumors that rarely spread to other parts of the body. They are dome-shaped tumors that often have a crater-like area in the middle, like a volcano. These tumors tend to start on sun-exposed areas of skin.

What causes crater-like skin?

Poor-fitting shoes or athletic equipment, or repetitive motions like shoveling, can abrade the skin and leave a crater-like wound. A large cystic breakout or boil that has drained may also leave a roundish-shaped area of skin with a depressed center.

What causes divots in skin?

What Are Pockmarks? Skin lesions that have a concave contour and appear to be holes or indentations are referred to as pockmarks. They develop when the skin's deeper layers are injured. Extra collagen is produced by cells in the skin's deeper layers when it begins to mend, which may leave scar tissue behind.

Doctor explains ROSACEA | Skin Condition - Causes, Treatment and more!

What is the skin condition that looks like holes?

What Is Pitted Keratolysis? Pitted keratolysis is a skin disorder that's caused by bacteria. It creates crater-like pits or small holes on the top layer of your skin and usually affects the soles of your feet, but can also develop on the palms of your hands.

Why am I getting dents in my skin?

Pitting edema is a specific type of edema that's associated with pitting, or indentation, in the affected areas and is often caused by systemic conditions such as heart failure, kidney disease, or low protein levels, where fluid retention is the main issue.

What are the tiny craters on my skin?

Boxcar scars are a type of acne scar that leads to rounded dents or craters in your skin. Because of this, boxcar scars take longer to fade than other acne scars. These scars aren't dangerous, but some people don't like how they look.

What is the Bowen's disease?

Bowen's disease is a very early form of skin cancer. The cancer is on the top layer of your skin. It has not spread to the layers under the skin. Bowen's disease is also called 'squamous cell carcinoma in situ'. Squamous cells are the flat cells that make up the top of the skin.

What does keratoses look like?

A round or oval-shaped waxy or rough bump, typically on the face, chest, a shoulder or the back. A flat growth or a slightly raised bump with a scaly surface, with a characteristic "pasted on" look. Varied size, from very small to more than 1 inch (2.5 centimeters) across.

What does sarcoidosis skin look like?

Sarcoidosis of the skin can look many ways. The most common lesions are small bumps and broad, raised skin lesions. They are often red-brown or purple, but can also be flesh colored or shades of tan or brown. They can be smooth or rough.

How do you get rid of crater skin?

Boxcar scars appear as craters in the skin and can develop as a result of acne or chickenpox. Treatments are available to reduce their appearance, such as dermarolling, microdermabrasion, and surgery. Boxcar scars are also known as craters or pockmarks.

What causes skin to look pitted?

Bacteria thrive under moist and warm conditions. They proliferate and produce protease enzymes that cause destruction of the stratum corneum to create pits/craters.

What do craters indicate?

Craters are the most common surface features on many solid planets and moons—Mercury and our Moon are covered with craters. This portion of the Moon is covered by numerous circular holes. These are impact craters, each of which was formed when an asteroid or comet collided with the Moon's surface.

What skin condition has craters?

Keratoacanthomas are thought to be a type of squamous cell skin cancer. They typically have a crater-like appearance with a slightly elevated lesion and a thick crust. Keratoacanthomas often have a thick layer of scale. Typical to keratoacanthomas, this lesion is red and inflamed at the base.

What is a crater formation on the skin?

Small nodules that grow slowly on the surface of the skin are known as Keratoacanthomas. They have a hard and scaly centre which is filled with Keratin, a protein. The skin lesion resembles a volcanic crater with a sprouting center.

What is keratosis?

Actinic keratosis is a rough, scaly patch or bump on the skin. It's also known as a solar keratosis. Actinic keratoses are very common, and many people have them. They are caused by ultraviolet (UV) damage to the skin.

What can be mistaken for Bowen's disease?

It's important to get a proper diagnosis, as Bowen's disease can look like other conditions, such as psoriasis or eczema.

What is erythroplasia of queyrat?

Erythroplasia of Queyrat (EQ) is a rare in situ squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the glans penis, which typically appears as one or more well-marginated erythematous velvety plaques. 1. Its cause is still unknown.

What causes crater like lesions on skin?

It looks like a small, red or skin-colored volcano -- there's a distinctive crater at the top of the lump that often has keratin, or dead skin cells, inside. You'll usually see keratoacanthoma on skin that's been exposed to the sun, like your head, neck, arms, the backs of your hands, and sometimes your legs.

What causes crater skin?

Pockmarks are concave scars that result from damage to the deeper skin layers from acne, trauma, or infection. They're sometimes used as a general term for atrophic acne scars (icepick scars, rolling scars, and boxcar scars). Pockmarks don't disappear on their own, but there are treatments to reduce their appearance.

What does pitted edema look like?

Edema in foot and ankle

Symptoms of edema include: Swelling or puffiness of the tissue right under the skin, especially in legs or arms. Stretched or shiny skin. Skin that holds a dimple, also known as pitting, after it's been pressed for a few seconds.

Why is my skin so pitted?

Pitted acne scars are hollow indents in the skin left behind by inflammatory acne. These scars develop due to the sudden loss of collagen during the skin's healing process. As cell regeneration occurs, it may not be enough to fully repair the damage. This causes depressions to form in the skin.

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