Nevus depigmentosus is a loss of pigment in the
skin
Skin is the layer of usually soft, flexible outer tissue covering the body of a vertebrate animal, with three main functions: protection, regulation, and sensation.
Other animal coverings, such as the arthropod exoskeleton, have different ...
which can be easily differentiated from
vitiligo
Vitiligo is a disorder that causes the skin to lose its color. Specific causes are unknown but studies suggest a link to immune system changes.
Signs and symptoms
The only sign of vitiligo is the presence of pale patchy areas of depigmen ...
. Although age factor has not much involvement in the nevus depigmentosus but in about 19% of the cases these are noted at birth. Their size may however grow in proportion to growth of the body. The distribution is also fairly stable and are nonprogressive
hypopigmented patches.
The exact cause of nevus depigmentosus is still not clearly understood. A sporadic defect in the embryonic development has been suggested to be a causative factor.
It has been described as "localised albinism", though this is incorrect.
Those with nevus depigmentosus may be prone to sunburn due to the lack of pigment, and the patient should use good sun protection.
Sunscreen should be applied to all exposed skin, since reduced tanning of normal skin will decrease the contrast with hypopigmented skin.
Most patients with nevus depigmentosus do not pursue treatment for their lesion.
There is no way to repigment the skin.
If, however, the lesion is of cosmetic concern, camouflage makeup is effective.
If the lesion is small one could also consider excision.
Signs and symptoms
These are localized white spots on skin which may affect any area of the body, but these white spots are quite stable
lesions
A lesion is any damage or abnormal change in the tissue of an organism, usually caused by disease or trauma. ''Lesion'' is derived from the Latin "injury". Lesions may occur in plants as well as animals.
Types
There is no designated classifi ...
.
In the majority of patients, the lesions are not completely achromic, but are hypopigmented and resemble splashed paint.
The individual lesions are permanent and there are no effective therapies for re-pigmenting this nevus.
If there is hair in an affected area, it is usually colourless or white.
Causes
All 3 components that is melanocytes, melanosomes, and melanogenesis is normal but the defect lies in the transfer of melanosomes.
Diagnosis
Initial assessment can be made based on the presence of depigmented patches, and confirmed with a skin biopsy.
Treatment
Different therapeutic modalities have been attempted to repigment the lesions of nevus depigmentosus such as PUVA, excimer laser, and different grafting techniques. PUVA therapy has not been shown to be beneficial. Successful repigmentation was reported in a single case with 14 sessions of excimer laser treatment. Though the repigmentation of nevus depigmentosus is possible by grafting techniques, the results are inconsistent and recurrence is possible. In consideration of the experience of other authors and us, the quality and retention of pigment are unpredictable. These factors need to be considered while consulting and offering any treatment to the patient of nevus depigmentosus.
See also
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Albinism
Albinism is the congenital absence of melanin in an animal or plant resulting in white hair, feathers, scales and skin and pink or blue eyes. Individuals with the condition are referred to as albino.
Varied use and interpretation of the term ...
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Alphos
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Leucism
Leucism () is a wide variety of conditions that result in the partial loss of pigmentation in an animal—causing white, pale, or patchy coloration of the skin, hair, feathers, scales, or cuticles, but not the eyes. It is occasionally spelled ...
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List of cutaneous conditions
Many skin conditions affect the human integumentary system—the organ system covering the entire surface of the body and composed of skin, hair, nails, and related muscle and glands. The major function of this system is as a barrier agai ...
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Melanism
The term melanism refers to black pigment and is derived from the gr, μελανός. Melanism is the increased development of the dark-colored pigment melanin in the skin or hair.
Pseudomelanism, also called abundism, is another variant of ...
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Nevus
Nevus (plural nevi) is a nonspecific medical term for a visible, circumscribed, chronic lesion of the skin or mucosa. The term originates from ''nævus'', which is Latin for "birthmark"; however, a nevus can be either congenital (present at bir ...
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Pityriasis alba
Pityriasis alba is a skin condition, a type of dermatitis, commonly seen in children and young adults as dry, fine-scaled, pale patches on the face. It is self-limiting and usually only requires use of moisturizer creams.
The condition is so name ...
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Quadrichrome vitiligo
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Selective ultraviolet phototherapy
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Vitiligo
Vitiligo is a disorder that causes the skin to lose its color. Specific causes are unknown but studies suggest a link to immune system changes.
Signs and symptoms
The only sign of vitiligo is the presence of pale patchy areas of depigmen ...
References
{{Pigmentation disorders
Disturbances of human pigmentation