Melanocytic Neoplasms
Omar P. Sangueza, Sara Moradi Tuchayi, Parisa Mansoori, Saleha A. Aldawsari, Amir Al-Dabagh, Amany A. Fathaddin, Steven R. Feldman in Dermatopathology Primer of Cutaneous Tumors, 2015
Lentigo simplex is a benign hyperpigmented macule that usually develops at birth or during early childhood that is due to increased melanin production from melanocytes. They are not associated with sun exposure or systemic disease. Melanocytic nevi are common pigmented lesions and can be junctional, compound or intradermal. Halo nevi are melanocytic nevi surrounded by a zone of depigmentation or halo of leukoderma. The onset of the ring of depigmentation occurs over several weeks to months. Blue nevus is a benign, usually intradermal, melanocytic lesion characterized by pigmented dendritic spindle-shaped melanocytes and more rarely, epithelioid melanocytes. The melanocytes are usually separated by thickened collagen bundles. Malignant melanoma is a skin cancer of the melanocytes, the pigment-producing cells of the skin. It has the ability to metastasize to any organ in the body, especially the brain and heart.
Benign Melanocytic Lesions
Ashfaq A Marghoob, Ralph Braun, Natalia Jaimes in Atlas of Dermoscopy, 2022
Dermoscopy has proven useful in diagnosing less frequent variants of melanocytic nevi, including “targetoid” nevi (i.e., halo nevi, cockade nevi, Meyerson nevi); “melanoma simulators,” in particular recurrent nevi and lichen sclerosus nevi; and other uncommon variants (i.e., balloon cell nevi, epidermolysis bullosa nevi). Halo nevi, also known as Sutton's nevi or leukoderma acquisitum centrifugum, were first described by Sutton in 1916. Meyerson's nevi are characterized by an eczematous reaction surrounding and overlying a pre-existing nevus. Overall, the eczematous reaction does not significantly distort the dermoscopic pattern of the nevus. However, the structures and pattern may appear less focused due to the overlying fine superficial scale or serocrusts. Clinically, Cockade nevi reveal a targetoid pattern characterized by a central pink to brown papule or macule that is surrounded by an inner hypopigmented rim and an outer pigmented rim.
Redox Modulation and Oxidative Stress in Dermatotoxicology
Jürgen Fuchs in Environmental Stressors in Health and Disease, 2001
Human exposure to foreign chemical compounds is continuously increasing due to growing industrial and agricultural activities, as well as increased use of body and home products. Environmental and occupational exposure can lead to various diseases and significant morbidity (1) and compelling evidence has emerged for oxidative stressrelated pathologies from numerous foreign substances (2-5). Oxidative stress is defined as an imbalance between prooxidants and antioxidants in favor of the former, resulting in an overall increase of reactive oxygen species (ROS) (6). The intracellular redox state is a tightly regulated parameter that provides the cell with an optimal ability to counteract the highly oxidizing extracellular environment. Intracellular redox homeostasis is regulated by antioxidants, particularly by thiol-containing molecules such as glutathione and thioredoxin. Key contributors to altered redox state are ROS that are formed by inflammatory cytokines and toxic xenobiotics, for example. Small variations in the basal level of ROS have been shown to modulate cell metabolism, gene expression, as well as post-translational modification of proteins. The skin is one of the largest body organs, it serves as a major portal of entry for many xenobiotics, and is a target organ for several environmental and occupational toxins (7-9). Parallel to the growing burden of chemical exposure, the incidence of skin disease suspected to be triggered by xenobiotics seems to be increasing. Common clinical forms of environmental and occupational skin diseases include allergic and irritant contact dermatitis as well as photosensitivity reactions. Chemical-induced leukoderma, comedogenesis, scleroderma, and skin cancer are rare cases of environmental and occupational skin diseases. The purpose of this review is to provide the reader with current information on the pathophysiology of selected environmental and occupational skin diseases caused by prooxidant chemicals from the viewpoint of redox-mediated toxicology.
Spotted leucoderma after treatment of facial hyperpigmentation on hemodialysis patients employing 1064-nm Q-switched Nd:YAG laser
Published in Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy, 2010
Chian-Yaw Hwang, Chrang-Shi Lin, Ming-Li Tseng, Han-Nan Liu
The development of skin hyperpigmentation in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) on hemodialysis (HD) have been well documented. However, the cosmetic concern was neither valued seriously nor treated effectively in the past. We report a female case who suffered from facial hyperpigmentation (FH). She was treated by large-spot sized, 1064-nm Q-switched Nd:YAG laser (QSNYL). A significant improvement was found after three treatment sessions at a fluence of 3.9 J/cm2 with 8-day intervals, but spotted leucoderma developed at the fourth visit. Neither residual FH nor spotted leucoderma subsequently improved following two additional sessions of 1064-nm QSNYL at a lower fluence with topical hydroquinone and HeNe laser, and it persisted at the 1-year follow-up. This clinically specific round-shaped leucoderma suggested laser-induced damage to melanocytes due to unsuitable application. The 1064-nm QSNYL with a large spot size and an appropriate parameter may become an effective therapeutic modality if properly utilized.
Management of resistant halo nevi
Published in Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy, 2019
Sherif S Awad, Rasha TA Abdel Aziz, Sahar S Mohammed
Background: Halo nevus (HN) is a rare dermatologic disorder characterized by typical whitish rim surrounding an existing melanocytic nevus resembling halo. It is a cosmetic problem that may be linked to vitiligo, and it is advised to remove these nevi in order to avoid development of vitiligo. Objectives: The aim of the present study is to evaluate the cosmetic outcome after nevus removal and leukoderma dermabrasion with epithelial graft followed by narrow-band ultraviolet B (NB-UVB) phototherapy as management of resistant halo nevi and avoidance of development of vitiligo. Patients and Methods: Ten patients with persisting halo nevi were selected as candidates in this study. Superficial dermabrasion was carried out using proper diamond fraises on depigmented rim and then punch biopsy probes with suitable size were used to harvest the nevus. Thiersch graft was prepared and applied on the dermabraded depigmented area. After 1 week of the procedure, patients were exposed to NB-UVB twice weekly and were followed up for 3 months. Results: Repigmentation was noticed in 2 weeks and was nearly fully accomplished in all 10 patients within the 3-month period. No other vitiligo lesions developed during this period in all patients except for one case. Conclusion: Excision of Sutton’s nevus with combined dermabrasion and Thiersch grafting followed by phototherapy is a good aesthetic maneuver in treating halo nevi and helps in avoiding further vitiligo depigmentation.
Role of curcumin in health and disease
Published in Archives Of Physiology And Biochemistry, 2008
Leelavinothan Pari, Daniel Tewas, Juergen Eckel
Curcumin (diferuloylmethane) is an orange-yellow component of turmeric (Curcuma longa), a spice often found in curry powder. In recent years, considerable interest has been focused on curcumin due to its use to treat a wide variety of disorders without any side effects. It is one of the major curcuminoids of turmeric, which impart its characteristic yellow colour. It was used in ancient times on the Indian subcontinent to treat various illnesses such as rheumatism, bodyache, skin diseases, intestinal worms, diarrhoea, intermittent fevers, hepatic disorders, biliousness, urinary discharges, dyspepsia, inflammations, constipation, leukoderma, amenorrhea, and colic. Curcumin has the potential to treat a wide variety of inflammatory diseases including cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, arthritis, Alzheimer's disease, psoriasis, etc, through modulation of numerous molecular targets. This article reviews the use of curcumin for the chemoprevention and treatment of various diseases.
Related Knowledge Centers
- Hypopigmentation
- Skin Disease
- Vitiligo