Dermatology » Pigmentatory

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