 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (December 2009) |
| Hypopigmentation | |
|---|---|
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| Hypopigmentation in vitiligo | |
| Specialty | Dermatology  |
Hypopigmentation is characterized specifically as an area of skin becoming lighter than the baseline skin color, but not completely devoid of pigment. This is not to be confused with depigmentation, which is characterized as the absence of all pigment.[1] It is caused by melanocyte or melanin depletion, or a decrease in the amino acid tyrosine, which is used by melanocytes to make melanin.[2] Some common genetic causes include mutations in the tyrosinase gene or OCA2 gene.[3][4] As melanin pigments tend to be in the skin, eye, and hair, these are the commonly affected areas in those with hypopigmentation.[2]
Hypopigmentation is common and approximately one in twenty have at least one hypopigmented macule. Hypopigmentation can be upsetting to some, especially those with darker skin whose hypopigmentation marks are seen more visibly. Most causes of hypopigmentation are not serious and can be easily treated.[5]
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
:1was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ a b Ferrier, Denise R. (2017). Biochemistry (Seventh ed.). Philadelphia. ISBN 978-1-4963-4449-6. OCLC 956263971.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - ^ Bolognia, Jean; Braverman, Irwin (2014). "Skin Manifestations of Internal Disease". Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.
- ^ Cross, Harold. "Biochemical Basis of Diseases". The Big Picture: Medical Biochemistry Eds. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.
- ^ Hill, Jeremy P.; Batchelor, Jonathan M. (2017-01-12). "An approach to hypopigmentation". BMJ. 356: i6534. doi:10.1136/bmj.i6534. ISSN 0959-8138. PMID 28082370. S2CID 26827617.