Nevus depigmentosus or nevus achromicus is a depigmentation problem in skin

Skin

-Dermis:The dermis is the layer of skin beneath the epidermis that consists of connective tissue and cushions the body from stress and strain. The dermis is tightly connected to the epidermis by a basement membrane. It also harbors many Mechanoreceptors that provide the sense of touch and heat...

 which can be easily differentiated from 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,...

. Although age factor has not much involvement in the nevus depigmentosus but in about 19% of the cases these are noted at birth. Their size may however grow in proportion to growth of the body. The distribution is also fairly stable and are nonprogressive hypopigmented patches. The exact cause of nevus depigmentosus is still not clearly understood. A sporadic defect in the embryonic development has been suggested to be a causative factor.
It has been described as "localised albinism", though this is incorrect. Those with nevus depigmentosus may be prone to sunburn due to the lack of pigment, and the patient should use good sun protection. Sunscreen should be applied to all exposed skin, since reduced tanning of normal skin will decrease the contrast with hypopigmented skin. Most patients with nevus depigmentosus do not peruse treatment for their lesion. There is no way to repigment the skin. If, however, the lesion is of cosmetic concern, camouflage makeup is effective. If the lesion is small one could also consider excision.

Causes

These white spots result from abnormalities in the function of melanocytes which produce little pigment thereby resulting in characteristic

Characteristic

Characteristic may refer to:In physics and engineering, any characteristic curve that shows the relationship between certain input and output parameters, for example:...

 white spots in skin.

Symptoms

These are localized white spots on skin which may affect any area of the body, but these white spots are quite stable lesions. In the majority of patients, the lesions are not completely achromic, but are hypopigmented and resemble splashed paint. The individual lesions are permanent and there are no effective therapies for re-pigmenting this nevus. If there is hair in an affected area, it is usually colourless or white.

Treatment

Different therapeutic modalities have been attempted to repigment the lesions of nevus depigmentosus such as PUVA, excimer laser, and different grafting techniques. PUVA therapy has not been shown to be beneficial. Successful repigmentation was reported in a single case with 14 sessions of excimer laser treatment. Though the repigmentation of nevus depigmentosus is possible by grafting techniques, the results are inconsistent and recurrence is possible. In consideration of the experience of other authors and us, the quality and retention of pigment are unpredictable. These factors need to be considered while consulting and offering any treatment to the patient of nevus depigmentosus.

See also

• Nevus
  Nevus
  Nevus is the medical term for sharply-circumscribed and chronic lesions of the skin. These lesions are commonly named birthmarks and moles. Nevi are benign by definition...
  
  
• 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,...
  
  
• Alphos
  Alphos
  Alphos is a form of non-contagious leprosy, formerly described by the physician Celsus under the name of vitiligo, a term now used for another skin disease...
  
  
• 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...
  
  
• Leucism
• Melanism
  Melanism
  Melanism is an undue development of dark-colored pigment in the skin or its appendages, and the opposite of albinism. It is also the medical term for black jaundice.The word is deduced from the , meaning black pigment....
  
  
• 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....
  
  
• Quadrichrome vitiligo
  Quadrichrome vitiligo
  Quadrichrome vitiligo is another variant of vitiligo, a cutaneous condition, which reflects the presence of a fourth color at sites of perifollicular repigmentation.- See also :* Trichrome vitiligo* ABCD syndrome* List of cutaneous conditions...
  
  
• Selective ultraviolet phototherapy
  Selective Ultraviolet Phototherapy
  Ultraviolet light therapy or ultraviolet Phototherapy is a form of treatment for certain skin disorders It consists mostly of the UVA band of ultraviolet light and is usually delivered from a fluorescent bulb specially...
  
  
• List of cutaneous conditions