Despite its great frequency, DPN was firstly described and named only in 1925 by Italian tropicalist doctor Aldo Castellani.

[4] They should not be confused for Leser-Trélat sign, a sudden explosion of lesions due to a growing tumor.

[2] DPN lesions show no tendency to regress spontaneously, and often increase in size and number as an individual ages.

Lesions generally emerge during puberty, increasing steadily in number and size as an individual ages.

Dermatosis papulosa nigra generally emerges in adolescence and is rarely in persons younger than 7 years.