J Korean Med Sci.  2006 Apr;21(2):368-370. 10.3346/jkms.2006.21.2.368.

Two Cases of Melasma with Unusual Histopathologic Findings

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Dermatology, Inha University School of Medicine, Incheon, Korea. jshin@inha.ac.kr
  • 2Department of Dermatology, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, Korea.

Abstract

We reported two cases of clinically typical melasma presenting with unusual histopathologic findings. In one case, the epidermal melanocytes were markedly increased in number and protruded into the dermis, and in the other case, increased epidermal pigmentation as well as dermal melanocytosis were found. We suggested that the various treatment modalities of melasma should be applied depend on its histopathologic finding.

Keyword

Melanosis; Melasma; Melanocytes; Pendulous Melanocyte; Dermal Melanocytosis

MeSH Terms

Melanosis/*pathology
Melanocytes/pathology
Humans
Female
Epidermis/pathology
Dermis/pathology
Adult

Figure

  • Fig. 1 (A) Malar type melasma in patient 1. (B) The melanocytes are markedly increased in number and show pendulous change (NKI-beteb, ×200), (Inset (B-1): NKI-beteb, ×1,000).

  • Fig. 2 (A) Malar type melasma in patient 2. (B) The lesional skin shows increased melanocytes in the epidermis and dermal dendritic pigmented cells (NKI-beteb, ×100).


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