Hypopigmentation is the loss of skin color. It is caused by melanocyte

Melanocyte

-External links: - "Eye: fovea, RPE" - "Integument: pigmented skin"...

 or melanin

Melanin

Melanin is a pigment that is ubiquitous in nature, being found in most organisms . In animals melanin pigments are derivatives of the amino acid tyrosine. The most common form of biological melanin is eumelanin, a brown-black polymer of dihydroxyindole carboxylic acids, and their reduced forms...

 depletion, or a decrease in the amino acid tyrosine

Tyrosine

Tyrosine or 4-hydroxyphenylalanine, is one of the 22 amino acids that are used by cells to synthesize proteins. Its codons are UAC and UAU. It is a non-essential amino acid with a polar side group...

, which is used by melanocytes to make melanin.

Treatments

Oftentimes, hypopigmentation can be brought on by laser treatments; however, the hypopigmentation can be treated with other lasers or light sources.

Associated conditions

It is seen in:

• albinism
  Albinism
  Albinism is a congenital disorder characterized by the complete or partial absence of pigment in the skin, hair and eyes due to absence or defect of an enzyme involved in the production of melanin...
  
  
• idiopathic guttate hypomelanosis
  Idiopathic guttate hypomelanosis
  Idiopathic guttate hypomelanosis is a very common acquired disorder that affects women more frequently than men, presenting with skin lesions that occur chiefly on the skins and forearms, suggesting sun exposure may play a role....
  
  
• leprosy
  Leprosy
  Leprosy or Hansen's disease is a chronic disease caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium leprae and Mycobacterium lepromatosis. Named after physician Gerhard Armauer Hansen, leprosy is primarily a granulomatous disease of the peripheral nerves and mucosa of the upper respiratory tract; skin lesions...
  
  
• leucism
• Phenylketonuria
  Phenylketonuria
  Phenylketonuria is an autosomal recessive metabolic genetic disorder characterized by a mutation in the gene for the hepatic enzyme phenylalanine hydroxylase , rendering it nonfunctional. This enzyme is necessary to metabolize the amino acid phenylalanine to the amino acid tyrosine...
  
  
• pityriasis alba
  Pityriasis alba
  Pityriasis alba is a common skin condition mostly occurring in children and usually seen as dry, fine-scaled, pale patches on the face. It is self-limiting and usually only requires use of moisturizer creams....
  
  
• vitiligo
  Vitiligo
  Vitiligo is a condition that causes depigmentation of sections of skin. It occurs when melanocytes, the cells responsible for skin pigmentation, die or are unable to function. The cause of vitiligo is unknown, but research suggests that it may arise from autoimmune, genetic, oxidative stress,...
  
  
• Angelman syndrome
  Angelman syndrome
  Angelman syndrome is a neuro-genetic disorder characterized by intellectual and developmental delay, sleep disturbance, seizures, jerky movements , frequent laughter or smiling, and usually a happy demeanor....
  
  
• tinea versicolor
  Tinea versicolor
  Tinea versicolor is a condition characterized by a rash on the trunk and proximal extremities. Recent research has shown that the majority of Tinea versicolor is caused by the Malassezia globosa fungus, although Malassezia furfur is responsible for a small number of cases...