Diagnosing, managing hypopigmented skin disorders

Early diagnosis and appropriate management of hypopigmented skin disorders can improve a patient’s quality of life, halt disease progression and prevent irreversible disability. (buraratn - stock.adobe.com)

Acquired hypopigmented skin changes are common, but recognizing underlying causes swiftly can benefit overall patient health. In some cases, it can be critical.

In a recent study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, researchers discussed hypopigmentation-producing disorders, their presentations and therapies. In cases where underlying conditions are infectious, they stress quick identification augments treatment and recovery.

“Early diagnosis and appropriate management of these disorders can improve a patient’s quality of life, halt disease progression and prevent irreversible disability,” the author’s wrote.

Even in benign cases, these disorders can have significant cosmetic, psychological, economic, and societal impacts. Studies and biopsies often do not render a diagnosis, so dermatologists must rely on characteristic clinical features to determine the underlying cause.

INFECTIOUS CONDITIONS

Prompt treatment can alleviate these conditions.

Hypochromic pityriasis versicolor: This superficial fungal infection, caused by Malassezia spp., typically appears during or post-puberty and presents with hypopigmented macules on the neck, upper trunk, and extremities. Immunocompromised individuals can see macules on the lower extremities and face. Risk factors include hyperhidrosis, endocrinopathies, oral contraceptives, depressed cellular immunity and oily preparation applications.

Topical agents with sun protection, such as imidazoles and zinc pyrithione shampoos, are common treatments. Oral regimens, including itraconazole, fluconazole, and pramiconazole, are also effective. Within a year, 60-68 percent of patients relapse, but once controlled, weekly anti-fungal shampoo or 200mg itraconazole twice a day, once monthly can prevent recurrence.

Paucibacillary leprosy: Caused by Mycobacterium Leprae, this disease progresses slowly, often appearing months or years after incubation following the onset of numbness or hyperalgesia. Indeterminate leprosy presents smooth, irregularly-bordered hypopigmented macules on the extremities and face. It can resolve, persist or progress based on the patient’s immune system. Tuberculoid and borderline leprosy often present with homogeneous hypopigmentation, erythema, and induration. Waning redness or repigmentation indicate resolution.

Macular post-kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis: This chronic infection is a complication of visceral leishmaniasis and is endemic to East Africa and the Indian subcontinent. It presents with perioral hypopigmented macules that converge into irregular patches to spread to the malar region, forehead and scalp. Therapies include sodium stibogluconate, amphotericin B and/or paromomycin. Treatment failure and disease relapse are common and difficult to differentiate from delayed repigmenation. Complete lesion resolution or repigmentation by 12 months post-treatment indicates cure.

Leucoderma syphiliticum: Although the painless ulcer associated with primary syphilis can go undetected, secondary syphilis (which appears 6-8 weeks after initial infection) can cause hypopigmented macular eruptions with or without alopecia. It is usually preceded by erythema.

DISCRETE HYPOPIGMENTED MACULES

These conditions require little-to-no treatment.

Idiopathic Guttate Hypomelanosis (IGH): This chronic condition, associated with ultraviolet exposure, trauma and genetic factors, appears more with age and presents otherwise asymptomatic hypopigmented-to-depigmented macules over the extremities. If treatment is desired, approach cryotherapy carefully in patients with dark-colored skin - it can create dyspigmentation around macules.

Physiological anemic macules: These spots occur and disappear spontaneously. Common in adults ages 20-40, they are asymptomatic, irregularly-shaped and appear on extremities. Mostly idiopathic, they can be associated with lymphedema, aortic abnormalities, palmar hyperhidrosis and pregnancy.

Chronic arsenic exposure (CAE): Often mistaken for IGH, CAE produces hypopigmented or depigmented macules on the trunk and extremities. It occurs mainly in patients who use non-public water sources, herbal medicines or who live in farming communities using arsenic as a pesticide. Early recognition is vital due to life-threatening, long-term complications, including heart attack, liver damage, cognitive impairment, pulmonary disease, cancer, adverse pregnancy outcomes and peripheral vascular disease.

LYMPHOMA-ASSOCIATED HYPOPIGMENTATION

Hypopigmented Mycosis Fungoides (HMF): This condition strikes mainly children and young adults, particularly those with dark-pigmented skin. Hypopigmented or depigmented patches frequently are scaly, and they appear on the trunk, inner thighs, hips and gluteal region. HMF responds well to therapy and has a 98-percent 20-year survival rate. Treat it with topical nitrogen mustard, topical carmustine, topical and oral bexarotene, topical corticosteroids, methotrexate, pralatrexate and light therapy.

Hypopigmented parapsoriasis en plaque (PSEP): PSEP appears as smooth, oval or round hypopigmented macules or patches. Management is similar to HMF, and if treated with narrow-band UVB phototherapy, it can resolve within two years. Roughly 14 percent of cases progress to HMF.

Overall, investigators said, systematically assessing clinical presentations, gathering a thorough history, and conducting a physical examination, can increase the likelihood of pinpointing the proper diagnosis.

Reference:
Oussedik E, Picardo M, Saleem M, Schoch J, “Acquired disorders with hypopigmentation: A clinical approach to diagnosis and treatment,” Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology (2018); dio: 10.1016/jaad.2018.07.070.