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• Pigmentation Disorders
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Pigmentation disorders involve hypopigmentation, depigmentation, or hyperpigmentation. Areas may be focal or diffuse.

Focal hypopigmentation is most commonly a consequence of

• Injury
• Inflammatory dermatoses (eg, atopic dermatitis, psoriasis)
• Burns
• Chemical exposure

Focal hypopigmentation or depigmentation is also a feature of vitiligo (which may involve large areas of skin), leprosy, nutritional deficiencies (kwashiorkor), and genetic conditions (tuberous sclerosis, piebaldism, Waardenburg's syndrome).

Diffuse hypopigmentation is most often caused by

• Albinism
• Vitiligo

Focal hyperpigmentation typically occurs after inflammation of various causes, but it also may occur in patients with a systemic disorder or cancer.

Last full review/revision October 2008 by Daniel E. McGinley-Smith, MD

Content last modified October 2008