Brief report: Areolar melanosis in a girl with precocious puberty

We report a case of melanosis of the areola in a 7-year-old girl with early thelarche. Areolar melanosis is a rare condition previously only described in women over 25 years of age, often in the setting of pregnancy. This case supports a theory that hyperpigmentation may be associated with increased sensitivity to hormonal stimulation in areas with greater populations of melanocytes.

[Eritema pigmentado fijo secundario a AINE: Reporte de caso]

Background

Fixed erythema pigmento (FPE) is an allergic drug reaction, the pathophysiology of which is not exactly known. It is more common in women with location on the face. Clinical presentation: round or oval red-purple macule, well defined, with swelling, pain, itching, and burning. Diagnosis is clinical, oral chal- lenge is contraindicated due to possible severe reaction. On withdrawal of the drug, residual violaceous hyperpigmentation remains.

Case report

34-year-old female diagnosed with allergic rhinitis and asthma. She received treatment with ibuprofen and cephalexin 1 month ago due to dental infection. For the past 2 weeks, she has presented dermatological lesions characterized by hyperpigmentation under the lower eyelids, accompanied by pain, burning, and itching. On physical examination, well-defined red-purple pigmentation was observed in both periocular regions. The challenge test is not justified, the clinical history is the diagnostic pillar. The indication is to stop the medication immediately and continue monitoring.

Conclusions

EPF is a drug reaction related to drug use. It creates a challenge for diagnosis due to poor knowledge of the characteristics of the dermatosis and poor clinical and pharmacological questioning. The EPF approach requires knowing the clinical characteristics of this dermatosis, making a differential diagnosis with other lesions and indicating the suspension of the responsible medication.

Penile terra firma-forme dermatosis in children

Terra firma-forme dermatosis (TFFD) is a rare, acquired keratinization disorder that predominantly affects children and young adults. Herein, we report three unusual cases of penile TFFD in children and the histopathologic and ultrastructural observations.

Disorders of hyperpigmentation. Part I. Pathogenesis and clinical features of common pigmentary disorders

Disorders of hyperpigmentation are common and, depending on the extent and location of involvement, can affect the quality of life and pose a significant psychologic burden for patients. Given the similarities in presentation of the various causes of hyperpigmentation, it is often difficult to elucidate the etiology of these conditions, which is important to guide management. Furthermore, certain disorders, such as lichen planus pigmentosus and ashy dermatosis, have similar clinical and/or histologic presentations, and their classification as distinct entities has been debated upon, leading to additional confusion. In this review, the authors selected commonly encountered disorders of hyperpigmentation of the skin, subdivided into epidermal, dermal, or mixed epidermal-dermal disorders based on the location of pigment deposition, along with disorders of hyperpigmentation of the mucosa and nails. Melanocytic nevi, genetic disorders, and systemic causes of hyperpigmentation were largely excluded and considered to be outside the scope of this review. We discussed the pathogenesis of hyperpigmentation as well as the clinical and histologic features of these conditions, along with challenges encountered in their diagnosis and classification. The second article in this 2-part continuing medical education series focuses on the medical and procedural treatments of hyperpigmentation.

Acute Onset Linear Lichen Planus Pigmentosus of the Forehead: A Case Series

Linear lichen planus pigmentosus (LPP) of the face is a rare variant of lichen planus, with only a few cases published in the literature.1 It is an inflammatory condition with unknown etiology, characterized by blue-gray hyperpigmented macules, and tends to affect sun-exposed areas of the head and neck.1-4 The pathophysiology of linear lichen pigmentosus is poorly understood, though it is postulated to be caused by T-lymphocyte autoimmunity against keratinocytes.5-7 LPP more frequently affects middle age woman and skin phototypes III-VI.1,3 Treatment for linear LPP is difficult and there is no established first-line therapy; however, tacrolimus ointment, topical corticosteroids, and various systemic agents have shown to be effective in improving the appearance.3,8,9 Prior reports have characterized linear LPP that follows the lines of Blashko as more commonly affecting the trunk.1 We present three cases of linear lichen planus pigmentosus (LPP) of the forehead, a unique novel presentation of linear LPP of the face. One of our cases also provides supporting evidence for tacrolimus to be used as a preferred therapy to treat linear LPP of the face; however, more research is needed to support this claim. To our knowledge, this case series is the largest case series of linear lichen planus pigmentosus (LPP) of the forehead to be reported. J Drugs Dermatol. 2023;22(1):94-97. doi:10.36849/JDD.7200.

Blue-black hyperpigmentation on the extremities

In some cases, diagnosis entails less "what is it?" and more "what caused it?"

[Hyperpigmentation reveals Addison's disease in a pregnant woman]

A 31-year-old woman was admitted to the local department of endocrinology for control of known anti-TPO positive hypothyroidism during pregnancy. The clinician noticed a remarkable hyperpigmentation. Primary adrenal insufficiency was diagnosed and treatment with cortico- and mineralosteroids commenced. Diagnosis of primary adrenal insufficiency during pregnancy is challenging as many symptoms overlap with normal symptoms of pregnancy. The usual diagnostic criteria cannot be used due to the altered hormone concentrations during pregnancy.

[Cutaneous hyperpigmentation as a manifestation in acute on chronic liver failure]

BACKGROUND

The acquired cutaneous pigmentation represents a little recognized clinical manifestation in liver disorders, both acute and chronic, and can occur in the exacerbation processes of preexisting hepatopathies, as in the context of acute-on-chronic liver failure. Several hypotheses about the increase in pigment at skin and mucous membranes have been developed; some try to explain it as a defect in the degradation of melanin with secondary accumulation at tissues; others, on the other hand, describe it as a consequence of the release of fibroblast growth factors like endothelial growth factor and hepatocyte growth factor, which are produced under the stimulation of liver regeneration and cause a melanogenesis stimulation. The aim of this article is to study pigmentary skin changes in the background of liver diseases.

CLINICAL CASES

We described two clinical cases of patients with acuteon chronic liver failure secondary to different clinical scenarios are presented, who have in common the development of acquired pigmentary skin changes.

CONCLUSION

In hepatopathies, the cutaneous hyperpigmentation is a sign with unknown etiology, so further studies are required to know the accurate pathophysiology. Reporting this finding is useful for physicians, since timely identification can help in the early diagnosis of underlying liver diseases.

Generalized Linear Porokeratosis in a Bilateral Distribution: An Unusual Presentation

An 8-year-old girl was seen for asymptomatic flat to raised hyperpigmented plaques distributed in a linear pattern over multiple segments of her body present 1 year of age. The eruption initially started as an itchy papule over the left lateral malleolus, which developed into hyperpigmented plaque and gradually extended linearly over a period of 2-3 months to involve the leg. Over the next year, similar lesions appeared on the hands and left side of the body. Most of the lesions progressed in size; however, a few lesions on the extremities resolved partially, becoming hyperpigmentation. There was no further progression of the eruption in the following 6 months. There was no history of erosions, blisters, or comedone-like lesions. There was no history of developmental delay or mental retardation. There was no relevant family history. (SKINmed. 2022;20:220-223).

Improvement of Unilateral Breast Hypoplasia With Oral Spironolactone in a Patient With Becker Nevus Syndrome

Becker nevus (BN) is a benign cutaneous smooth muscle hamartoma that presents with a hyperpigmented patch or plaque with or without hypertrichosis.1 BN may be associated with ipsilateral breast hypoplasia or other musculoskeletal abnormalities, an association which has been termed Becker nevus syndrome (BNS).

Assessment of Circadian-based Antioxidants Plus a Comprehensive Brightener in Skin of Color Patients With Hyperpigmentation

BACKGROUND

Hyperpigmentation disorders disproportionately affect individuals with skin of color. There is an unmet need for safe and effective topical treatments for this population.

OBJECTIVE

The efficacy and tolerability of LYT2 in combination with LVS were assessed in skin of color patients with moderate to severe facial hyperpigmentation.

METHODS

A single-arm study was performed in Asian, Hispanic, or African American patients (Fitzpatrick phototypes III–VI). Subjects applied LYT2 and LVS daily, in addition to a basic skincare regimen, for 12 weeks. Overall hyperpigmentation, skin-tone evenness, and radiance were evaluated by the investigator, and subjects completed questionnaires regarding self-perceived efficacy.

RESULTS

After 12 weeks, the combination of LYT2 and LVS produced a 23% improvement in overall hyperpigmentation, a 33% increase in skin-tone evenness, and a 51% increase in radiance compared to baseline. At the study conclusion, all patients noted at least a slight improvement in skin condition, and 70% reported good or excellent satisfaction. One subject (8%) experienced a treatment-related adverse event.

CONCLUSION

The combination of LYT2 and LVS was well-tolerated and improved the appearance of hyperpigmentation and overall quality in skin of color. J Drugs Dermatol. 2022;21(4):376-380. doi:10.36849/JDD.6687.

Updates In Therapeutics for Lichen Planus Pigmentosus

Lichen planus pigmentosus (LPP) is a rare variant of lichen planus presenting most commonly in middle-aged patients of color and characterized by the insidious onset of violaceous, brown, or grayish patches on photo distributed areas. Currently, there is limited data regarding the efficacy of treatments for LPP. We, therefore, sought to provide an analysis of current treatment protocols for this condition.

Getting to the Core of Contemporary Therapies for Post-Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation

Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) is a typical complication of inflammatory dermatoses that more frequently and severely affects people with darker skin. External insults to the skin, such as burn injuries, dermatologic treatments, and intrinsic skin disorders (eg, eczema and acne), are common causes of PIH. Individuals with darker skin are prone to develop PIH, which can cause substantial psychological suffering. PIH can be prevented or alleviated. When this happens, it is essential to point out what is causing it and treat it as soon as possible to prevent inflammation and PIH from progressing. If the inflammatory symptoms go away or there is no evidence of inflammation at the time of diagnosis, PIH treatments should be evaluated. To hasten the resolution of PIH, treatment should begin as soon as possible. Treatment begins with the care of the initial inflammatory condition. Topical medications, chemical peels, laser and light-based treatment, phototherapy, and other therapeutic modalities are offered to treat PIH. Understanding the therapy options available helps the physician in choosing the best treatment for each patient. With these backgrounds, the current review aimed to discuss the epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical presentation, and available treatment options for the PIH. J Drugs Dermatol. 2022;21(3):276-283. doi:10.36849/JDD.6485.