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Results for “Skin Pigmentation”

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At least 307 records · Page 17Linked to original sources
PubMed1996

The Q-switched ND:YAG laser effectively treats tattoos in darkly pigmented skin.

BACKGROUND: Laser therapy for removal of cosmetic tattoos has been proven efficacious in lighter skin. Few studies have been reported using the Q-switched neodymium-yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Nd:YAG) laser to treat tattoos in darkly pigmented or type VU skin, however. OBJECTIVE: To report results using the Q-switched Nd:YAG laser to remove tattoos from type VI skin. METHODS: Eight darkly pigmented patients had 15 amateur tattoos treated with the Q-switched Nd:YAG laser. Treatments numbered three or four on average and were given at 8-week intervals. Results were rated by the patients and by a panel of four physicians. RESULTS: Eight of 15 tattoos were rated as 75-95% cleared after therapy. Another five tattoos were 50% cleared. Two tattoos were only 25% cleared, but underwent only two treatments. None of the patients reported any changes in texture of their skin post therapy. Thirteen of 15 tattoos were removed without any change in the color of the involved skin. The other two tattoos were removed with only slight lightening of the skin. CONCLUSION: When treating patients in whom there is a significant risk for keloid scarring or destruction of natural pigment as a consequence of tattoo removal, the Q-switched Nd:YAG laser appears to be an excellent choice of therapy.

Humans↗
PubMed1964

SKIN PIGMENTATION AND CORNEAL AND LENS OPACITIES WITH PROLONGED CHLORPROMAZINE THERAPY.

Previously undescribed ocular and dermatologic complications of prolonged chlorpromazine therapy have been noted in 70 patients of a series of many thousands receiving similar therapy. All affected patients were women who had been receiving high doses of chlorpromazine, averaging 500 to 1500 mg. daily, for at least three to five years before the complications became apparent. Skin manifestations consisted of a peculiar purplish pigmentation of the skin of exposed areas of the face, neck and hands, characterized histologically by deposition of material with the staining properties of melanin in the superficial layers of the dermis, particularly in a perivascular distribution. Ocular complications consisted of granular opacity of the cornea and often of the lens as well, the latter producing a central stellate type of cataract.

Cataract↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[A karyotype and chromatin study of the peripheral blood lymphocytes of patients with pigmented skin neoplasms].

Rearrangements of genetic material in the peripheral blood lymphocyte nuclei have been found in patients with dysplastic pigmented nevi and malignant melanomas (15 cases), in contrast to the control (10 healthy persons). It is expressed as an increase in the number of chromosome aberrations in the karyotype and as a change of the Feulgen-positive substance correlation in the interphase nuclei of the given cells towards an increase in the active-functioning DNA structures.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

[The ruby laser: can removal of pigmented skin changes with the ruby laser be done by non-physician personnel?].

Chromophores of the skin, especially melanin and exogenous pigments (e.g., tattoos), absorb red ruby laser light (694 nm) comparatively well. Selective photothermolysis of melanin, melanosomes, and tattoo particles theoretically leads to clearing or removing of cutaneous pigmented lesions and tattoos. The excellent cosmetic results after ruby laser treatment are leading to the increasingly widespread use of these costly laser systems. Not only physicians, but also cosmeticians and masseurs work with ruby lasers to remove tattoos and cutaneous pigmented lesions, often without correct dermatological diagnosis. An ever-increasing number of patients present themselves at our department with nevi previously treated with ruby laser. The dimensions and potential sequelae of these treatments are still unknown. Therefore, we present the principles of ruby laser treatment and its indications, side effects, and the main risks.

Humans↗
PubMed2004

Inter- and intra-variability of pigmented skin lesions: could the ABCD rule be influenced by host characteristics?

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Many differences in color, shape and dimension exist between different moles even in the same individual. Major differences might be accounted for anatomical location, genetic factors and by environmental factors, mainly sunlight exposure. Therefore, it would be of great value, when evaluating skin lesions, to take into account the degree of intra- and inter-variability of several diagnostic parameters. In order to assess the morphologic and chromatic differences between lesions belonging to different patients and between lesions belonging to the same individual, we examined objective digital parameters obtained with dermatoscopic analysis, using the DBDermo MIPS system (BIO MIPS Engineering, S.R.L, siena, Italy). METHODS: The automatic classifier inside the software is based on a 'match by similarity' algorithm, based on the measurement of the Euclidean distances of all variables considered from the reference image. Two-hundred and four clinically benign pigmented lesion, belonging to 18 patients were examined, stored and automatically processed. For each lesion objective parameters related to geometry, color and texture were automatically evaluated. RESULTS: We found skin color (healthy skin) is objectively different from subject to subject and the lesion color is more similar among different lesions of the same patient than among lesions belonging to different individuals both in their darkest and slightly dark component. We also observed that lesion dimensions are individual correlates, i.e. the probability for a lesion to be large is higher when the other, in the same patient, is large. CONCLUSION: Many parameters of pigmented skin lesions evaluated by digital dermoscopy analysis are similar in the same patient and different from those belonging to different individuals. This indicates that, when considering a lesion, we should take into account the peculiar patient's characteristics.

Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted↗
PubMed2000

A quantitative evaluation of pigmented skin lesions using the L*a*b* color coordinates.

The evaluation of pigmentary skin lesions by clinical doctors has been based on subjective and qualitative judgements. Observations have mostly relied on visual inspection, making the effects of treatment difficult to evaluate with any precision. For this reason there is a real need for an objective method to evaluate prognosis after treatment. Recent scientific measurements such as reflectance spectrophotometry and reflectance colorimetry have provided accurate quantitative color information about skin lesions, but these techniques are costly and difficult to apply in the clinical field. The purpose of this study was to develop a simple and cost-effective way of evaluating treatment results. We have developed a software program using the L*a*b* color coordinate system to quantify the effect of treatment and have successfully demonstrated its clinical usefulness. Our method compares the relative color difference between normal skin and skin lesions before and after treatment, instead of measuring the absolute color of skin lesions. The accuracy of our quantitative color analysis was confirmed by the simulated images of hemangioma and ota nevus. Clinical efficacy was also confirmed through a blind test involving 3 clinicians who were asked to grade the treatment effects of 13 cases of hemangioma and 7 cases of ota nevus. These subjective clinical grades correlated well with the treatment results obtained using the proposed color analysis system (Correlation coefficient = 0.84).

Color↗
PubMed1998

Efficacy of topical treatment of pigmentation skin disorders with plant hydroquinone glucosides as assessed by quantitative color analysis.

Hydroquinone is a well known reagent used in the treatment of pigmentation disorders. The instability of the quinones and the required active concentration make topical treatment rather difficult. We tested the efficacy of an ascorbate-phytohydroquinone complex that inhibits the synthesis of melanin and promotes the degradation of the existing melanin. Lentigo senile lesions were evaluated before and after 1 month of treatment. Objective skin color evaluation was performed instrumentally. After one month of treatment, a clear depigmentation of the macules was measured. None of the volunteers reported any side effects from the prolonged treatment with the hydroquinone containing product.

Administration, Cutaneous↗
PubMed1975

[Skin pigmentation after amiodarone administration. Histogenetic problems].

The authors present a pathological study of the skin in a 62 year-old man with facial pigmentation due to amiodarone. They found under the light microscope, cells resembling histiocytes filled with pigment. They were less numerous than usually reported, but were found associated with a pericapillary and periglandular lymphocytic infiltration, which raises the problem of iatrogenic lupus or Jessner-Kanoff's disease. Examination under the electron microscope, permitted identification of 5 groups of granulations, three of which had already been observed by Mrs. Fagola. These pigments correspond to lipofuscins, melanin, but also yet unidentified substances, may be metabolites of amiodarone.

Amiodarone↗
PubMed1989

Skin pigmentation associated with minocycline therapy.

A patient on long-term minocycline therapy developed blue-black discoloration on the legs. Skin biopsy specimens from the pigmented areas were examined by light and electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray microanalysis. Pigmented granules were present at all levels of the dermis and subcutaneous fat tissues. Ultrastructural examination showed electron-dense granular material within the cytoplasm of dermal macrophages and energy-dispersive X-ray microanalysis indicated that the granules contained iron. Thyroid tissue obtained by aspiration biopsy showed the presence of fine brown granules within the cytoplasm of the follicular epithelial cells. An extract of skin from the pigmented areas was subjected to high performance liquid chromatography and minocycline was detected.

Female↗
PubMed2004

Pigmented skin lesions of the upper extremity.

This article discusses pigmented lesions of the upper extremities, including nevi, melanoma, and Merkel cell carcinoma. The diagnosis and work-up is emphasized, with attention also given to the techniques of sentinel node biopsy. An overview of the latest treatment strategies is provided.

Arm↗
PubMed1998

Does alpha-MSH have a role in regulating skin pigmentation in humans?

Over the years there has been much debate as to whether alpha-MSH has a role as a pigmentary hormone in humans. There are two main reasons for this. First, despite the observations in the 1960s that alpha-MSH increased skin darkening in humans, there are reports that the peptide has no effect on melanogenesis in cultured human melanocytes. Second, the human pituitary, unlike that of most mammals, secretes very little alpha-MSH and circulatory levels of the peptide in humans are extremely low. However, there is now evidence from several groups that alpha-MSH is capable of stimulating melanogenesis in cultured human melanocytes. Rather than producing an overall increase in melanin production, it appears that the peptide acts specifically to increase the synthesis of eumelanin. Such an action could well explain the previously observed skin darkening effects of alpha-MSH. It is also now known that alpha-MSH is not produced exclusively in the pituitary but has been found at numerous sites, including the skin where it is produced by several cell types. Related Proopiomelanocortin (POMC) peptides such as ACTH are also produced in human skin. The ACTH peptides act at the same receptor (MC-1) as alpha-MSH and certain of these would appear to be more potent than alpha-MSH in stimulating melanogenesis. The ACTH peptides are also present in greater amounts than alpha-MSH in human epidermis and it is likely that they play an important role in regulating pigmentary responses. These POMC peptides are released from keratinocytes in response to ultraviolet radiation (UVR) and it has been proposed that they serve as paracrine factors in mediating UV induced pigmentation. Their production by keratinocytes could therefore be critical in determining pigmentary responses and any changes in the availability of these POMC peptides might explain the variations in tanning ability seen in different individuals. However, the possibility that tanning ability is also dependent upon differences at the level of the MC-1 receptor cannot be ruled out and it has been suggested that an inability to tan may depend upon the presence of non-functional changes at the MC-1 receptor. alpha-MSH does, of course, affect human melanocytes in several ways and its stimulation of melanogenesis could be the consequence of some other fundamental action in the melanocyte. The peptide also has many other target sites in the skin and while it may have a role in regulating skin pigmentation in humans, it should not be viewed solely as a pigmentary peptide. alpha-MSH clearly has many different actions and its primary role in the skin may be to maintain homeostasis.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗
PubMed1980

Skin pigmentation secondary to minocycline therapy.

Localized brown to blue-black discoloration of the skin occurred in three patients receiving long-term minocycline hydrochloride therapy. Abundant perivascular pigmented material was present at all levels of the dermis below the upper papillary portion. Histochemical studies demonstrated reactivity with the Prussian blue stain and the Fontana-Masson silver technique. The granules were brightly refractile by dark-field illumination. Ultrastructurally, there were membrane-bound dense intracellular inclusions differing from melanin and iron but identical to those known to occur in the thyroid glands of minocycline-primed laboratory animals. The abnormal pigment most likely represents a metabolic derivative of minocycline.

Acne Vulgaris↗
PubMed2000

Effects of glycolic acid on light-induced skin pigmentation in Asian and caucasian subjects.

BACKGROUND: Topical use of alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA) may increase skin photosensitivity, as demonstrated by increased numbers of sunburst cells. However, effects of AHA on tanning have not been studied. OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to study whether short-term use of glycolic acid hastens resolution of pre-existing light-induced pigmentation and whether the skin becomes tan more easily in Asian and Caucasian subjects after such treatment. METHODS: Six Asian and six Caucasian volunteers received separate irradiations of UVB and UVA to both sides of the lower back. In a double-blind fashion, patients then applied a 10% glycolic acid gel, pH 3.52, to one side of the back, including the irradiated area, and the contralateral extensor forearms once daily for 7 days and then twice daily for 2 weeks. A placebo gel, pH 5.75, was applied to the opposite sides. The subjects returned for measurement of residual tanning with a colorimeter and received additional irradiation to forearms and a second site on the back. Resulting pigmentation was measured immediately after irradiation, at 2 hours, and at 1 week. RESULTS: Increased UVB-induced skin tanning occurred on the forearm and the lower back in both races in areas pretreated with glycolic acid. UVA also caused increased tanning, but only on the extensor forearms in Asian subjects. Treatment with glycolic acid for 3 weeks had no effect on pre-existing light-induced pigmentation. CONCLUSION: Short-term topical treatment of glycolic acid caused an increase in UVB tanning as well as in UVA tanning in some subjects, even in the absence of overt irritation. The inclusion of UVB, and even UVA, sunscreen in AHA products may be warranted.

Adult↗