Final answer:
Dermal thickening is primarily associated with an increased production of connective tissue within the dermis layer of the skin.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question revolves around what dermal thickening is associated with. The correct answer to the question is B. increased production of connective tissue. Dermal thickening usually occurs as a result of an increase in the connective tissues within the dermis layer of the skin. This is part of the skin’s natural response to various conditions, including inflammation or injury. Factors like acne, which is a skin condition due to infected sebaceous glands, or responses to damage like an increase in Pacinian corpuscles around a wound (which are not primarily related to thickening of the dermis) do not directly cause the dermal thickening.