International Academy of Cosmetic Dermatology
PIGMENTARY CHANGES
Changes in the color of the skin occur when there is interference with the melanocytes, the pigment producing cells which make melanin. A variety of situations can lead to lightening (hypopigmentation) or darkening (hyperpigmentation) of the skin. Some examples include:
- Lightening of the skin
- Albinism
- Bleaching agents
- Hydroquinones
- Mequinol
- Trichloracetic acid
- Burn
- Cortico-steroid application
- Intralesionally
- Topically
- Pityriasis alba
- Post-inflammatory hypopigmentation
- Tinea versicolor
- Vitiligo
- Darkening of the skin
- Burn
- Cushing’s disease
- Melasma
- Poikiloderma of Civatte
- Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation
- Photodermatitis
- Porphyria cutanea tarda
- Polymorphic light eruption
- PUVA and PUVB (psoralens and ultraviolet light)
- Suntanning
- Tinea versicolor
Lawrence Charles Parish, MD, MD (Hon)
Philadelphia, PA, USA