Introduction to pigment disorders

Skin colour is determined not only by melanin, but also by vascularity and other pigments (eg haemosiderin, carotene, heavy metals).

Pigment disorders can be divided into those characterised by:

• hypopigmentation—eg vitiligo, postinflammatory hypopigmentation, pityriasis alba, idiopathic guttate hypomelanosis
• hyperpigmentation—eg melasma, Poikiloderma of Civatte, postinflammatory hyperpigmentation, café au lait macules , congenital melanocytic naevi, naevus of Ota and Hori naevus.

Pigment disorders may be generalised or localised, but only the common localised forms are covered in this Pigment disorders topic.

See also pityriasis versicolor.