Clinical profile of 300 men with facial hypermelanosis

Facial Demodicosis-Induced Skin Hyperpigmentation in an Immunocompromised Man Treated Successfully with Ivermectin 1% Cream: A Case Report

Demodex folliculorum is a common ectoparasite of humans that inhabits follicular infundibulum and sebaceous ducts. Its role in various dermatological diseases is well studied. However, data on demodex-induced skin pigmentation are very limited. A diagnosis of this entity can be easily missed for other causes of facial hyperpigmentation such as melasma, lichen planus pigmentosus, erythema dyschromicum perstans, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, and drug-induced hyperpigmentation. Here, we report a case of facial demodicosis-induced skin hyperpigmentation in a 35-year-old Saudi male who is on multiple immunosuppressive agents. He was successfully treated with ivermectin 1% cream and had a dramatic improvement at his 3-month follow-up. Our aim is to shed light on this underdiagnosed cause of facial hyperpigmentation which can be easily diagnosed and followed up by bed side dermoscopic examination and managed effectively by anti-demodectic therapies.

Advances in Biomedical Functions of Natural Whitening Substances in the Treatment of Skin Pigmentation Diseases

Pigmentation diseases can lead to significant color differences between the affected part and the normal part, resulting in severe psychological and emotional distress among patients. The treatment of pigmentation diseases with good patient compliance is mainly in the form of topical drugs. However, conventional hydroquinone therapy contributes to several pathological conditions, such as erythema, dryness, and skin desquamation, and requires a longer treatment time to show significant results. To address these shortcomings, natural whitening substances represented by kojic acid and arbutin have gradually become the candidate ingredients of traditional local preparations due to their excellent biological safety. This review focuses on several natural whitening substances with potential therapeutic effects in pigmentation disease and their mechanisms, and a thorough discussion has been conducted into the solution methods for the challenges involved in the practical application of natural whitening substances.

Case report: nevus of Ota and nevus of Ito associated with meningeal melanocytosis

BACKGROUND

Nevus of Ota and nevus of Ito are hyperpigmentary dermal melanocytoses which develop as a consequence of disturbances or failures during migration of melanocytes from the neural crest towards the epidermis; they have a relatively unknown aetiopathogenesis and may be congenital or acquired.

CASE REPORT

This case involves a male patient with a simultaneous diagnosis of nevus of Ota and nevus of Ito at birth. He attended the Neurosurgery department at Carlos Andrade Marín hospital (Quito) with sudden severe headache associated with left brachio-crural hemiparesis.

PROGRESS

Investigations revealed two extra-axial space-occupying lesions, one parasagittal at the right frontal and parietal lobes and the other located at the right temporal lobe pole. A surgical resection was planned for the parasagittal lesion and the histopathological diagnosis was meningeal melanocytosis. The temporal pole lesion was referred for treatment with Gamma Knife®.

CONCLUSION

Primary melanocytic neoplasms are extremely rare. There is evidence of their association with dermal melanocytosis and, in particular, with nevus of Ota. This highly unusual case describes the coexistence of two very rare dermal melanocytoses (nevus of Ota and nevus of Ito) and a primary melanocytic neoplasms in the same patient.

Melasma: How hormones can modulate skin pigmentation

We described-along with a genetic predisposition and exposure to sunlight, as the main factors for melasma development-pregnancy, hormonal therapies, and oral contraceptive pills. Whilst hormonal alteration or therapies are frequently reported in literature in association with melasma, studies analyzing the laboratoristic correlation are limited. We review data published on hormones variations both in women and males with melasma and report some peculiar clinical cases that further demonstrate how the relationship between hormone secretion and melasma development is difficult to be defined.