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Disorders of Hypopigmentation and Depigmentation

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Dermatoanthropology of Ethnic Skin and Hair

Abstract

There are numerous disorders characterized by hypopigmentation and depigmentation which affect individuals of all skin types. Disorders of hypopigmentation typically denote a decrease in melanin production or melanocyte function, while disorders of depigmentation are characterized by a total loss of melanin or melanocytes. Consequently, individuals with these conditions experience lightening of the affected skin or even a total loss of skin color. While, this can be devastating to all that are affected, those of darker skin types are typically at greater risk of feeling the adversity of dyschromia. In this chapter, we discuss various disorders of hypopigmentation and depigmentation, their pathogenesis, and treatment options.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Dermatology, Howard College of Medicine, 2041 Georgia Avenue, Washington, DC, 20060, USA

    Trisha J. Patel, Ife J. Rodney & Rebat M. Halder

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  1. Trisha J. Patel
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  2. Ife J. Rodney
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  3. Rebat M. Halder
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Correspondence to Rebat M. Halder .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Dermatology, Center for Ethnic Skin, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

    Neelam A. Vashi

  2. University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA

    Howard I. Maibach

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Patel, T.J., Rodney, I.J., Halder, R.M. (2017). Disorders of Hypopigmentation and Depigmentation. In: Vashi, N., Maibach, H. (eds) Dermatoanthropology of Ethnic Skin and Hair. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-53961-4_14

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-53961-4_14

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