Skin depigmentation

Depigmentation of the skin is called uneven staining of the epidermis, resulting from a deficiency of the coloring matter – melanin. The loss of skin pigmentation property can be due to genetics, exposure to ultraviolet rays or a serious dermatological disease. The main symptom of pathological changes is the presence of lightened areas on the surface of the epidermis. Lightened spots can have a different form of severity, usually it depends on the stage of the disease. With this problem, you should contact a dermatologist.

Features of skin depigmentation

Depigmentation of the dermis indicates a violation of pigment metabolism in the human body. The disease can manifest itself in two forms: achromia (complete absence of coloring matter), hypochromia (deficiency of melanin in epithelial cells).

The appearance of lightened areas on the skin is considered by physicians to be the only sign of depigmentation. Since melanin is present in the hairline, the iris of the eyes and the inner ear, their color also changes. Depigmentation can be complete (lightened areas on the skin do not have gaps, are continuous) and incomplete (uneven alternation of lightened spots with normal skin).

The disease is divided into persistent and temporary phase. In the first case, the restoration of the functioning of melanocytes is impossible. Temporary depigmentation is amenable to medical treatment.

The main causes of the disease

There are acquired and congenital causes of this disease. They are interconnected with the absence of melanin in certain areas of the skin. In rare cases, epithelial cells do not have an important pigment at all, an example is albinism, which is congenital.

Acquired causes include: chronic skin diseases; inflammation; long-term treatment with corticosteroids; starvation; period of pregnancy; lack of iron in the blood; autoimmune disorders. Also acquired factors are endocrine dysfunction and dermatological diseases such as leprosy, streptoderma and psoriasis.

Depigmentation can occur due to prolonged exposure to ultraviolet rays. Doctors can diagnose a pathology, the cause of which is a burn or trauma with skin damage.

Forms of depigmentation of the epidermis

Forms of violation of skin pigmentation are: albinism; vitiligo; idiopathic or guttate hypomelanosis; Hypomelanosis of Ito. The congenital absence of melanocytes is inherited. The features of the pathology are pronounced achromia or hypochromia, white hair, translucent iris, photophobia, pinkish tone of the skin. Albinism in 90-95% of cases does not cause skin cancer.

Vitiligo is a skin disease that causes light spots on the neck, upper and lower extremities. They can grow, merge and expand throughout the body. More often, white spots are localized on the knees, elbows, near the mouth and eyes.

The main cause of the disease is considered to be a deficiency of melanocytes. Other factors that influence the appearance of pathology include: violation of the central nervous system; reduced immunity (if the cells responsible for pigmentation are damaged, vitiligo may develop); self-destruction of the coloring matter. Scientists have not yet fully figured out whether the disease is transmitted from parents to children or not.

Idiopathic hypomelanosis is acquired and congenital. Typically, such depigmentation of the epidermis appears in children and adolescents. The spots have a different shape, clear contours are very rare. Guttate hypomelanosis is observed in 60-70% of cases in the fair sex over thirty years old. Light-skinned people get sick more often than dark-skinned people.

Depigmentation worsens after prolonged sun exposure. The first sign of pathology are light lesions on the legs. The spots are usually oval or round in shape (diameter reaches 1-1,5 centimeters). If the disease progresses, they occur on the chest, abdomen and back. The neck and face often remain out of the risk zone (up to 5% of cases were recorded when guttate hypomelanosis was localized on the skin of the face and neck).

Ito’s hypomelanosis is genetically transmitted. Symptoms of the disease usually appear in infancy. Signs of pathology: wavy and zigzag stripes on the epidermis; spots have different sizes; chaotic localization of brightened areas. In adolescence, pigment elements become smaller, occasionally they disappear altogether. Hypomelanosis of Ito is often accompanied by a congenital anomaly of development.

Sometimes people have other forms of depigmentation: piebaldism (partial albinism, which is a rare autosomal dominant pathology); Bourneville’s disease (the rarest genetic pathology, a feature of which is damage to the central nervous system, skin damage, the presence of hamartomas in the internal organs); phenylketonuria (violation of amino acid metabolism causes depigmentation of the dermis, profuse rash).

Depigmentation in children

Uneven staining of the epidermis in children often appears from the moment they are born. There are cases when the problem arises as the child grows up and affects only certain areas of the body. Depigmentation of the epidermis is, first of all, a cosmetic defect, which causes the appearance of complexes and internal clamps.

Since children’s skin has a pale shade, parents cannot always detect pathology from the first days of life. They should monitor the condition of the baby’s epidermis and consult a pediatrician and a dermatologist in a timely manner.

The main causes of skin depigmentation in children

Lack or absence of melanin can be from birth or occur in adulthood. Depending on the forms of depigmentation, the doctor judges possible other diseases. For example, with vitiligo, a child is able to suffer from infectious diseases.

Causes of depigmentation of the skin in children:

• genetic predisposition;
• stressful situations;
• violation of the central nervous system;
• beriberi (deficiency of vitamins in the body);
• intoxication and poisoning;
• thyroid problems.

The most common causes of depigmentation in babies are frequent stress, strong feelings and mental disorders. Vitiligo usually becomes active during adolescence. Doctors state that problems with melanin are chronic, observed for a long period of time. Babies have white spots of various shapes, often with rounded or even edges.

Diagnostics

Adult women and men with skin depigmentation should consult a dermatologist. This doctor diagnoses dermatological diseases, understands the issues of prevention and prevention of the development of serious pathologies. The specialist also studies the relationship of diseases with pathological and abnormal conditions.

A doctor can refer a patient with depigmentation of the skin to undergo a series of tests: allergy tests, a blood test for antibodies and antigens, scrapings, cultures for microflora. A specialist may prescribe a dermatoscopic examination of skin formations to the patient.

Methods for studying the human skin are: palpation (the doctor determines the density and turgor of the dermis, its temperature, the presence of swelling, nodules); assessment of the color of the epidermis (the doctor visually assesses the condition of the nails, mucous membranes, hairline, looks for rashes, peeling, cracks and ulcers).

If a specialist has found any pathologies, it is worth taking into account their localization, symmetry, size, shape, color, mobility, density. After examining and receiving the results of laboratory tests and studies, the dermatologist writes a conclusion and prescribes an effective therapeutic course.

Risk groups

Depigmentation is very often treated with medications. Once the root cause of the spots is removed, they disappear or become less visible on the skin. The exception is albinism and vitiligo. Spots do not cause pain and discomfort to a person. The only disadvantage of the pathology is the aesthetic unattractiveness and the occurrence of complexes.

Uneven coloration of the skin appears in people most often before the age of twenty. Very rarely, people in their 30s and 40s seek medical help. Human race in skin diseases does not play a special role. According to statistical reports, men develop dermatological diseases several times less often than women.

Risk groups include people: with a genetic predisposition to diseases of the skin; who have undergone a severe stressful situation; with burns of the second and third degree; with severe sunburn; with autoimmune diseases. With constant visits to solariums, the risk of depigmentation of the dermis increases by 2-3 times.

Pathology is not accompanied by pain and itching sensations. The only problem with vitiligo and albinism is the psychological factor associated with the aesthetic appearance of the spots.

preventive measures

Prevention of skin diseases slows down the spread of spots throughout the body, can prevent the appearance of new lightened areas. Doctors recommend starting timely therapy for chronic diseases of the epidermis. Long-term sunbathing (ultraviolet) has a negative effect on the skin.

In order not to aggravate the problem, patients should avoid injury to the dermis and burns. During childbearing, a woman with skin depigmentation should be registered with a dermatologist. With skin neoplasms, periodic dispensary examinations are mandatory.

When planning a pregnancy, a man and a woman should consult a geneticist, take laboratory tests for the presence of a genetic predisposition and depigmentation of the child’s skin.

Lightened spots on the skin are considered a failure of the body’s internal adaptation mechanisms or a consequence of the influence of external factors. Congenital depigmentation negatively affects the quality of life and the emotional component, since it is almost impossible to cure it. Spots do not threaten human health, their development and growth can be stopped if you engage in prevention and follow the advice of specialists. With regular examinations by a dermatologist with skin diseases, you can live until old age.