What is the difference between depigmentation and hypopigmentation?

While a decreased pigment production is reported as hypopigmentation, depigmentation has been defined as loss of pigment. In a similar way, partial lack of melanin is known as hypomelanosis while amelanosis is the total absence of melanin.

What is depigmentation of skin?

Vitiligo is a condition in which the skin loses its pigment cells (melanocytes). This can result in discolored patches in different areas of the body, including the skin, hair and mucous membranes. Vitiligo (vit-ih-LIE-go) is a disease that causes loss of skin color in patches.

What are Hyperpigmented macules?

A macule can be a variety of colors based on the cause. For example, macules can be moles (which are hyperpigmented, or darker, relative to the skin) or vitiligo lesions (which are hypopigmented or depigmented, or lighter, relative to the skin). The term “rash” refers to a collection of new changes on the skin.

What causes patches of hypopigmentation?

How does it present? Pale patches may occur on the skin after any cause of inflammation such as discoid eczema, psoriasis, cutaneous lupus, sarcoidosis, thermal burns, or cryotherapy. Patients with dark skin are particularly prone to post-inflammatory hypopigmentation or hyperpigmentation.

What is a Macule?

A macule is a flat, distinct, discolored area of skin. It usually does not include a change in skin texture or thickness. The skin is the largest organ of the body. The skin and its derivatives (hair, nails, sweat and oil glands) make up the integumentary system.

Is vitiligo hypopigmentation or depigmentation?

Vitiligo is a common skin disease characterized by the presence of well circumscribed, depigmented milky white macules devoid of identifiable melanocytes. On the other hand, hypopigmented mycosis fungoides (MF) is a rare variant of MF which presents clinically as persistent hypopigmented macules and patches.

How can you tell the difference between white spots and vitiligo?

Vitiligo (vit-il-EYE-go) is a skin disorder that causes the skin to lose its color. Smooth white areas (called macules if less than 5mm or patches if 5mm or larger) appear on a person’s skin. If you have vitiligo in a place that has hair, the hair on your body may also turn white.

What is an example of macules?

Macules are flat, nonpalpable lesions usually < 10 mm in diameter. Macules represent a change in color and are not raised or depressed compared to the skin surface. A patch is a large macule. Examples include freckles, flat moles, tattoos, and port-wine stains.

What do macules look like?

A macule is a small, flat, red area of discoloration, and a papule is a small, red, raised lesion. As a result, a maculopapular rash appears as red bumps against a red background. People with darker skin may not notice the flat, red patch.

Can you reverse hypopigmentation?

Treatment depends on the severity of the condition. Your doctor may recommend topical creams, ultraviolet light therapy, or oral medication to help restore skin color and stop the spread of white patches. Skin grafts are also effective for getting rid of small patches of white skin.

Can lost skin pigment be restored?

There is no cure. Treatment may include covering smaller patches with long-lasting dyes, light-sensitive medicines, UV light therapy, corticosteroid creams, surgery, and removing the remaining pigment from the skin (depigmentation).

What are the 3 types of skin lesions?

Primary skin lesions tend to be divided into three groups: Lesions formed by fluid within the skin layers: Examples include vesicles and pustules. Lesions that are solid masses: Examples include nodules and tumors. Flat lesions: Examples include patches and macules.

Is every white spot is vitiligo?

The condition varies from person to person. Some people only get a few small, white patches, but others get bigger white patches that join up across large areas of their skin. There’s no way of predicting how much skin will be affected.

Does vitiligo start as small dots?

Vitiligo usually begins with a few small white patches that may gradually spread over the body over the course of several months.

Is every white patch vitiligo?

What is an example of a papule?

Papule: a circumscribed, elevated solid lesion up to 1 cm in size, elevation may be accentuated with oblique lighting, e.g. Mila, acne, verrucae. Plaque: a circumscribed, elevated, plateaulike, solid lesion greater than 1 cm in size (e.g. psoriasis).

What color are macules?

The colors of macules include shades of brown, due to melanin pigmentation in the epidermis (A), blue, due to melanin or other particulates (like some tattoo pigments) in the der mis (B), red, due to vasodilatation in the dermis without (C), and with (D) inflammatory cells present.

How long do macules last?

A maculopapular rash can appear on any part of the body depending on the underlying cause. It may also spread to other areas. The rash usually lasts from 2 to 21 days. Chronic maculopapular rashes may last for more than 8 weeks.

What can dermatologist do for hypopigmentation?

If hypopigmentation is a symptom of a skin condition, certain medications can treat it. These medications may include corticosteroids and topical calcineurin inhibitors, including tacrolimus ointment and pimecrolimus cream.

How do I get my skin pigment back?

Your skin’s pigmentation, or color, is based on the production of a substance called melanin. If your skin cells don’t produce enough melanin, the skin can lighten.
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Treatment options may include:

  1. dermabrasion.
  2. chemical peels.
  3. laser resurfacing or therapy.
  4. lightening gels, such as hydroquinone (Blanche)

How do you fix depigmentation?

Treatments

  1. Makeup or self-tanner. You can try applying a tinted cream to blend your affected facial skin with the rest of your complexion.
  2. Tattooing. Don’t think of this as a traditional tattoo that covers the depigmented skin.
  3. Medications.
  4. Light therapy.
  5. Skin grafts.
  6. Skin lighteners.
  7. Herbal supplements.

Which vitamin deficiency causes white spots on skin?

A deficiency in vitamin B-12 can present itself as white spots or patches on your skin. Since vitamin B-12 is also essential for the production of hemoglobin in red blood cells, you may also be at risk for pernicious anemia, a condition that causes pale skin, fever, and weight loss.

What are the 7 different skin lesions?

What are the different types of primary skin lesions?

  • Blisters. Blisters are skin lesions filled with a clear fluid.
  • Macules. Macules are small spots that are typically brown, red, or white.
  • Nodules.
  • Papules.
  • Pustules.
  • Rashes.
  • Wheals.

What are the 6 primary skin lesions?

Primary Skin Lesions

  • Macule.
  • Papule.
  • Nodule.
  • Tumor.
  • Plaque.
  • Vesicle.
  • Bullae.
  • Pustule.

How can you tell the difference between vitiligo and normal white spots?

Vitiligo often starts as a pale patch of skin that gradually turns completely white. The centre of a patch may be white, with paler skin around it. If there are blood vessels under the skin, the patch may be slightly pink, rather than white. The edges of the patch may be smooth or irregular.