Medical Articles
Melanin imparts color to one’s skin, which in turn depends on a host of factors eg ethnicity, heredity, environment etc. Changes in skin pigmentation, both diffuse or patchy, may occur both due to disease and drugs.
Diffuse pigmentation: Common causes are
Addison disease
Haemochromatosis
Hyperthyroidism
Chloasma, both of pregnancy and menopause
Icterus
Patchy pigmentation
Melanotic carcinoma, occasionally causing a deeply pigmented skin
Tinea versicolor, which produces patchy yellow-brown pigmented area over the trunk.
Any dermatitis that takes a long time to heal
Café au lait spots of neurofibromatosis
Stasis dermatitis from chronic thrombophlebitis and varicose veins
Pellagra – pigmentation of the dorsal surfaces of the hands and face
Carcinoid syndrome
Porphyria
Gaucher disease
Ochronosis – bluish black or bluish brown pigment of the sclera, ears, skin, and nails.
Vitiligo (idiopathic type) – patchy depigmentation
Drug reactions
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