Conference Notes
Treatment of Melasma (Chloasma) (Pregnancy Mask)
Wednesday, March 21st, 2012Treatment of Melasma (Chloasma) (Pregnancy Mask) Available treatments can be classified into the following: Phenolic: Hydroquinone (HQ), Kojic acid, N-acetylglycosamine (inhibits the glycolization of tyrosinase) Non Phenolic: Azelaic Acid, Retinoids, N-acetylcysteine Compound: Kligman’s formula… Contributors: Dr Christophe HSU – dermatologist. Geneva, Switzerland Bibliography: Katsambas A. Melasma: Pathogenesis and Treatment. 70e Réunion annuelle de l’AAD (American […]
Recognizing melasma (chloasma, pregnancy mask)
Wednesday, March 21st, 2012Recognizing melasma Melasma can be epidermal, dermal or mixed However, Wood’s light does no reliably define the depth of pigment Reflectance confocal microscopy is a more definitve method of doing so. Clinical Assesment of melasma is done through MASI (Melasma Area Severity Index) Melasma (Chloasma) (Pregnancy Mask): Differential Diagnosis: Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) Drug-induced (minocycline…) Frictional […]
How is melanin produced ? (melanin is the principal pigment giving to the skin its colour)
Wednesday, March 21st, 2012How is melanin produced ? (melanin is the principal pigment giving to the skin its colour) Tyrosinase is normally inactive and is produced through the transcription of the tyrosinase gene Glycolization (attachment of a sugar) of tyrosinase activates it. Glycolization is induced by sunlight, irritation, hormones, radicals… Activated tyrosinase then converst the amino acid tyrosine […]
Melasma (Chloasma) (Pregnancy Mask): Epidemiology and Risk Factors
Wednesday, March 21st, 2012Ethymology melasma comes from the Greek word “melas” which means black chloasma comes from the Greek word “chloe” which means green grass Epidemiology Geographical Factors affected 5 million people in the USA in 1955 affects 8.8% of Latino (Hispanic) females affects 40% of females in South-East Asia affects 80% of males in South-East Asia ! […]
L-ascorbic acid (Vitamin C)
Tuesday, March 20th, 2012L-ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) Is an antioxidant Is used in the treatment of disorders of pigmentation including melasma (chloasma) (pregnancy mask) Alters the color of melanin from jet black to light tan Unstable as quickly oxidized Bibliography: Katsambas A (Conflicts of Interest: Abbott, Janssen-Cilag, Leo Pharma, Merck, Schering-Plough). Melasma: Pathogenesis and Treatment. 70e Réunion annuelle […]
Hyperpigmentation and Melasma: Facts and Psychological factors
Tuesday, March 20th, 2012Hyperpigmentation and Melasma: Facts and Psychological factors The most common causes of hyperpigmentation are PIH (Post-inflammatory Hyperpigmentation) and melasma Did you know this about melasma ? 10% of affected individuals are men in India affects 25.8% of men Hyperpigmentation Is one of the top 10 diagnosis in the asia. one indian out of 6 In […]
Vitiligo: Personality traits
Tuesday, March 20th, 2012Vitiligo: Personality traits Anxious Loyal, compliant and grateful Eager for knowledge Many misconceptions on the disease Vitiligo is familial Not only it runs in families But the consequences can be on the whole family. In some cultures, the siblings of individuals with vitiligo won’t get married as the social stigmatization is so high beacause of […]
Pityriasis alba
Monday, March 19th, 2012Easy to diagnose ! Epidemiology: frequent in children and young adults Clinically: hypopigmentation with desquamation (peeling) on the whole body but very cumbersome when localized on the face (picture) Etiology: often, there is a personal or familial history of atopy it is probably a mild form of dermatitis (eczema) Treatment: responds poorly to UV based […]
Idiopathic Guttate Hypomelanosis (IGH)
Monday, March 19th, 2012Epidemiology: affects men and women of all ethnic backgrounds Etiology: sunlight could be a factor but genetic factory (family history) play a more important role Clinically: lesions are typically located on the shins and then on the arms Histology: melanocytes morphologically intact but melanization is suppressed (synthesis of melanin). Epidermis may be slightly atrophic Treatment: […]
Depigmentation of Vitiligo
Monday, March 19th, 2012Is done with Monobenzyl ether of Hydroquinone 20% (Benoquin) Condition: vitiligo of more than 75% of the body surface area Usage: applied twice a day until depigmentation is seen Is permanent so written informed consent is important Side Effects: can give rise to allergic contact dermatitis Contributors: Dr Christophe HSU – dermatologist. Geneva, Switzerland Source […]
