Laugier-Hunziker syndrome

Laugier-Hunziker syndrome is a benign pigmentary disorder which manifests as macular hyperpigmentation of the lips and buccal mucosa. Some patients have longitudinal pigmented bands of nails. The syndrome has no systemic associations. Two patients of this rare syndrome are reported. Disorders producing similar pigmentary changes which must be differentiated are discussed.

Comparison of UVA protection afforded by high sun protection factor sunscreens

UVA protection afforded by 6 different sunscreens with a sun protection factor of 21 or more was compared by means of the persistent pigmentation darkening method. Colorimetric and visual assessment showed significant differences in UV radiation-induced pigmentation at 2 hours. The labeled sun protection factor of the tested sunscreens was not predictive of UVA protection level.

Linear atrophoderma of Moulin

We report a typical case of linear atrophoderma of Moulin that represents a distinct clinical entity. A 17-year-old woman presented with hyperpigmented and atrophic band-like skin lesions measuring 3-5 cm in breadth on the right side of her trunk and on the right buttock, in an arrangement following the system of Blaschko's lines. The skin lesions had a normal texture and showed no signs of inflammation, lilac ring, erythema, induration, sclerosis or depigmentation. Routine laboratory data were normal. Antinuclear antibodies and anti-Scl70-antibodies were negative. Histopathologically, a moderate diffuse hyperpigmentation within the lower epidermis, a focal vacuolar degeneration of the basal layer, and a few dermal perivascular lymphocytes accompanied by signs of pigment incontinence were noted. Intravenous penicillin G was administered for 14 days in a dosage of 10 x 10(6) IU twice daily. This treatment was repeated after 3 and 9 months. No effect was noted. Linear atrophoderma of Moulin takes a chronic course without progression or regression. The disease leads to significant cosmetic impairment and this may cause emotional stress. Due to its relationship to idiopathic atrophoderma of Pierini-Pasini and linear scleroderma, treatment with intravenous penicillin was tried. In our case it had no effect.

Overlap of reticulate acropigmentation of Kitamura, acropigmentation of Dohi and Dowling-Degos disease in four generations

A large kindred is being reported in which reticulate acropigmentation of Kitamura (RAPK) and acropigmentation of Dohi (APD) were associated with features of Dowling-Degos disease (DDD). The pedigree was traced through four generations and 50% of the members were found to be affected. RAPK, APD and DDD are inherited as an autosomal dominant trait with variable penetrance. The differentiation and overlap/association of RAPK, APD and DDD is discussed.

A case of Dowling-Degos disease suggesting an evolutional sequence

We report a 47-year-old woman who presented with asymptomatic reticulate hyperpigmentations on the neck, lateral face, axillae, trunk, inguinal areas, and dorsa of both hands and feet. We thought it was an unusual case in the spectrum between the pole of Dowling-Degos disease (DDD) and that of reticulate acropigmentation of Kitamura (RAK). Another interesting point was that the biopsied specimens from the abdomen, neck, and axillary lesions showed somewhat different histopathologic features from typical DDD, suggesting an evolutional sequence. From these findings we suggest that a lichenoid inflammation may be responsible for the typical maculo-papular lesions of DDD.

Minocycline-induced hyperpigmentation in patients with pemphigus and pemphigoid

BACKGROUND

Immunosuppressive medications typically used to treat the immunobullous disorders pemphigus vulgaris, pemphigus foliaceous, and bullous pemphigoid can have serious adverse effects. The tetracycline family of antibiotic drugs has been shown to be effective in the treatment of these conditions with a more favorable side effect profile. Minocycline hydrochloride use has been associated with various forms of hyperpigmentation, and its incidence is well reported in acne vulgaris and rheumatoid arthritis. We examined a series of 9 patients treated with minocycline for pemphigus or pemphigoid, most of whom have developed cutaneous hyperpigmentation.

OBSERVATIONS

Seven of 9 patients treated with minocycline, 50 mg daily (1 patient) or 100 mg twice daily (8 patients), for pemphigus vulgaris, pemphigus foliaceous, or bullous pemphigoid developed hyperpigmentation, which necessitated discontinuing therapy. Five of these patients had experienced notable clinical improvement of their immunobullous disease with minocycline therapy. The average duration of treatment was 8.2 months (range, 1-25 months). The second most common adverse effect in our group was oral candidiasis, which occurred in 2 patients.

CONCLUSIONS

We found a favorable response to minocycline therapy in 5 of 9 patients. However, 7 patients developed localized hyperpigmentation as early as 1 month after starting medication use. This incidence of minocycline-induced hyperpigmentation is significantly higher in immunobullous disease than in acne vulgaris or rheumatoid arthritis. This increased incidence may be related to an increase in pigment deposition complexed with collagen during the remodeling process, subclinical inflammation, or glucocorticosteroid-induced skin fragility. The hyperpigmentation process was reversible, as most of our patients had fading of their pigmentation after minocycline cessation.

Incontinentia pigmenti (Bloch-Sulzberger-syndrome): case report and differential diagnosisto related dermato-ocular syndromes

BACKGROUND

Incontinentia pigmenti (IP; Bloch-Sulzberger syndrome) is an inherited disorder of skin pigmentation that is associated with skin (100%), dental (90%), skeletal (40%), central nervous (40%) and ocular (35%) abnormalities. The pathogenesis is not yet known. The disease is usually seen in females, as it is an X-linked dominantly inherited disease which is lethal in males.

PATIENT PRESENTATION

We present a 9-year-old girl with the classical general and ocular signs of IP. She presented in early childhood with inflammatory vesicular skin changes which changed into pigmented skin alterations especially on the trunk. Ocular findings were microphthalmia and retrolental mass formation in one eye and retinal pigmentary changes in the other. In our patient, the spontaneous mutation may have been caused by the family's close neighbourhood to Semipalatinsk, Kasachstan, where regular nuclear tests took place very shortly before the pregnancy with our patient began.

DISCUSSION

Ocular involvement is described in about a third of persons affected with IP. A nearly consistent and pathognomonic finding is a pigment retinopathy (mottled diffuse hypopigmentations). A further consistent finding are abnormalities of peripheral retinal vessels with areas of non-perfusion in the outer retina. The retinal pigment epitheliopathy and the abnormalities of retinal vessels are thought to be the underlying pathognomonic findings, with all other ocular signs being secondary (cataract, leucocoria, optic atrophy, strabismus, nystagmus and microphthalmus). Exudative retinal detachment occurs only in a minority, usually in very early childhood, when the skin lesions are exudative as well. IP patients should, however, be clinically observed regularly because of their retinal pigmentary changes.

Addison's disease: the potentially life-threatening tan

Addison's disease is a potentially life-threatening endocrine disorder. The classic dermatologic sign of Addison's disease is diffuse hyperpigmentation of the skin with focal hyperpigmentation of scars, nails, and the oral mucosa. Recognition of these dermatologic manifestations in a patient with otherwise vague constitutional symptoms warrants a consideration of Addison's disease.

Skin pigmentation and texture changes after hair removal with the normal-mode ruby laser

Promising clinical results have been obtained with the normal mode ruby laser for removal of unwanted hair. Melanin within the hair follicles is thought to act as target for the ruby laser pulses, whereas epidermal melanin is thought to be a competitive chromophore, responsible for potential side effects. This study aimed (i) to objectify postoperative changes in skin pigmentation and texture and (ii) to evaluate the importance of variations in preoperative skin pigmentation for the development of side effects 12 weeks after 1 treatment with the normal-mode ruby laser. A total of 17 volunteers (skin types I-IV) were laser-treated in the hairy pubic region (n = 51 test areas). A shaved test area served as control. Skin reflectance spectroscopical measurements, 3-dimensional surface contour analysis and ultrasonography objectified postoperative changes in skin pigmentation and texture. Blinded clinical assessments revealed postoperative hyperpigmentation (2% of test areas) and hypopigmentation (10%), whereas no textural changes were seen. Reflectance spectroscopically-determined pigmentary changes depended on the degree of preoperative skin pigmentation, fairly pigmented skin types experiencing subclinical hyperpigmentation and darkly pigmented skin types experiencing subclinical hypopigmentation. Three-dimensional surface profilometry documented similar pre- and postoperative surface contour parameters, indicating that the skin surface texture is preserved after laser exposure. Ultrasonography revealed similar skin thicknesses in laser-exposed and untreated control areas. It is concluded that normal-mode ruby laser treatment is safe for hair removal in skin types I-IV.

Extensive mongolian spots with involvement of the scalp

A Chinese infant boy had extensive Mongolian spots in the occipital, gluteal, sacrococcygeal, and lumbar areas. The occurrence of a Mongolian spot in the scalp area has not been previously reported. Awareness of such an occurrence is important so that a false accusation of child abuse is not made.

Hereditary ochronosis: hyperpigmented skin overlying cartilaginous structures

Hereditary ochronosis, or alkaptonuria, results from deficiency of homogentisic acid oxidase. It is an autosomal recessive condition found in geographically isolated populations. The excess homogentisic acid deposits in collagenous structures, leading to unusual pigmentation of the skin overlying cartilaginous structures, but on occasion pigment is also seen in the sclera, in sweat after oxidation, and classically, in urine when left standing at room temperature. This case report highlights the pathogenesis and expression of this rare disorder.

Lipodermatosclerosis and atrophie blanche

An overview of the causes, diagnosis and treatment of lipodermatosclerosis and atrophie blanche

An intriguing case of LEOPARD syndrome

We report a 9-year-old boy affected by LEOPARD syndrome, who also had ichthyosis, axillary freckling, two café au lait spots, and one neurofibroma. The diagnosis of LEOPARD syndrome has been made on clinical grounds, whereas the ichthyosis and neurofibroma have been histologically confirmed. The analogies between LEOPARD syndrome and neurofibromatosis have been discussed. Finally, we maintain this case is an example of the multiple lentigines syndrome/LEOPARD syndrome spectrum.

Malignant melanoma in situ arising in the nail unit of a child

A very rare case of malignant melanoma in situ of the nail unit of a child is presented. Clinically, a pigmented streak was present on the finger nail of a 3-year-old girl, and the lesion increased in size and in darkness of the color associated with periungual pigmentation in the following two years. Histopathologically, sections showed proliferation of atypical melanocytes, arranged mostly in single units but some in nests, in and above the basal layer of the epithelium and admixed with long dendrites and a few mitotic figures. Pigmented lesions of nail units of children often show fading or loss of pigmentation clinically; however, a biopsy should be done when they show augmentative changes which clinically suggest malignancy, because subungual malignant melanoma can exist even in children, and proper biopsy can detect it in its early stages.