Dr Christophe Hsu – dermatologist. Geneva, Switzerland What is vitiligo ? Vitiligo is a skin disorder which presents as white spots and patches on the skin. This is due to a progressive loss of the pigment, melanin, which gives us our skin colour. The loss of pigment occurs when pigment cells (melanocytes) are destroyed and…
What are solar lentigines? Solar lentigines are brown spots 1 cm or greater in diameter, occurring usually on the face and back of the hands. Solar lentigines are evidence of excessive sunlight exposure. They are found in individuals over 40 years of age, especially if they have a long history of working outdoors. How are…
What is post-infammatory hyperpigmentation? It is a discolouration that is left on the skin after an underlying skin disease has healed. The underlying skin disease may be trauma, skin infection, eczema (dermatitis) or a drug reaction. In dark-skinned persons, the colour tends to be more intense and persists for a longer period. The pigmentation tends…
What is melasma? Chloasma consists of brown spots/patches on both sides of the face, especially on the cheeks, upper lips, nose and chin. The distribution is usually symmetrical. Chloasma is mainly seen in women of child-bearing age. The colour in Chloasma darkens during sunlight exposure. Chloasma tends to occur during pregnancy and with the use…
Dr Christophe HSU – dermatologist. Geneva, Switzerland What is idiopathic guttate hypomelanosis (IGH) ? These are discrete porcelain-white spots measuring about 5mm in diameter. The lesions are localized on sun-exposed areas, more often on the forearms and shins. These spots are stable and do not tend to grow. Hairs located on the lesions are unaffected.…
What are freckles? Freckles are pale brown spots less than 5 mm in diameter with poorly defined margins. They are first noticed during childhood and are common in fair-skinned individuals. Usually occurring on the face, they darken on sun exposure. They are caused by an increased amount of melanin in the pigment cells. The number …
