Favre-Racouchot disease: protective effect of solar elastosis.

Favre-Racouchot disease (FRD) is an occupational disorder characterized by solar elastosis with open and cystically dilated comedones that tend to appear on the periorbital and temporal face of elderly light-complexioned men. It is a benign condition caused by chronic excessive ultraviolet exposure, as well as ionizing radiation and/or smoking. However, malignant skin neoplasms are uncommonly observed arising in FRD, which suggests a protective role of some element of FRD against carcinogenesis. We explore elastosis as a possibly beneficial tissue response. The clinical manifestations, pathogenesis, and recommended treatment options of this disorder are reviewed.