Atopic Dermatitis: a Short Summary
Solar Lentigo (For Professionals)
Epidemiology
- Occurs mostly in Caucasians phototypes1,2 and 3
- Affects worldwide 90% of humans over 70 of age. This amounts today to 600 million aged 65 and over, this will be 2 billion individuals in 2050
Psychological impact
- it is a marker of aging and is visible as it occurs mostly on face and hands
- indeed 20% of patients in the US seek treatment when aged between 45 and 55
Differential Diagnosis
- (Focused): PIH, melasma (chloasma), Seborrheic (Seborrhoeic) Keratosis, reticulated black solar lentigo=ink spot lentigo (melanin unevenly distributed), UVA and PUVA lentigo, sunburn spots (on back, a marker of melanoma presence), ephelides (freckles) (MCR-1 Gene mutation) (not related to sun expression), pigmented seb K, pigmented AK, extensive pigmented AK, Hutchinson’s Melanotic Freckle (HMF) (Dubreuil’s Melanosis) (Lentigo Maligna).
- To be complete: juvenile lentigo (lentigo simplex), freckles (epehlides), ink spot lentigo, PUVA-induced lentigenes, Tanning-Bed lentigenes, Seborrheic (Seborroeic) Keratosis, Pigmented actinic keratoses, Large Cell Acanthoma, Junctional Nevomelanocytic nevus, Flat reticular and pigmented seborrheic keratosis, pigmented and pigmented-spreading actinic keratosis, sunburn spot.
Histopathology:
- Elongation of reted ridges with bud-like extensions of the epidermis (without cellular atypia) into the dermis except (on the face).
Pathogenesis:
- progressive stages: increase of melanocytes, elongation of the rete ridges and increased pigment deposition. Increased melanin synthesis.
- Implicated mediators
- endothelin 1 and receptor
- Genes Involved (Keratinocytes and Melanocytes):
-SCF (stem cell factor)
-p53
-KGF (Keratinocyte growth factor)
-KGF receptor
-HGF (Hepatocyte Growth Factor)
-Il-1 alpha
-FGFR3 (hyperpigmentation)
-PIK 3CA (hyperpigmentation)
- Another observation is that granulated cells expressing FXIIIa are also present in the dermal part of SL (dendrocyte marker). These melanin-laden cells are filled with larger than normal melanosomes (it is not known how the epidermal to dermal trnsfer of melanin takes place).
Treatments in general
- hypomelanoses: cryotherapy
- hypermelanoses: cryotherapy, peeling, dermabrasion, laser, hydroquinone and other depigmenting agents, retinoic acid
Contributors:
Dr Christophe HSU – dermatologist. Geneva, Switzerland
Bibliography: Ortonne JP, Aging and Photoaging – 22nd World Congress of Dermatology (WCD) – Seoul, South Korea
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