Dermatosis Papulosa Nigra (DPN)

Dermatosis Papulosa Nigra (DPN)

Dermatosis Papulosa Nigra (also known as DPN) is characterized by small brown or black spots that are on the skin around the cheekbones and eyes. The dark spots may also be found on other areas of the face, neck, chest and back. Some people with dermatosis papulosa nigra have a few, isolated spots while others have hundreds of spots. The spots may be flat or hang off the skin like a skin tag.

The spots are neither cancerous nor medically concerning, but they may be itchy, irritating, or cosmetically undesired. They are often referred to as ‘moles’ but they are not true moles by definition.

This condition occurs most frequently in blacks and dark-skinned Asians, and less frequently in other races. Fair-skinned blacks are less likely to develop dermatosis papulosa nigra than dark-skinned blacks. Women are more likely to develop this condition than men. The spots generally appear after puberty and grow in size and number with age.