Melanosis coli is a harmless discoloration of colon cells caused by overuse of laxatives, such as Senecot® or aloe vera. It has few symptoms and is reversible, but can suggest laxative abuse, which can lead to serious colon ailments. It does not increase the risk of colon cancer.
Melanosis coli is a benign discoloration of cells in the colon and is usually not diagnosed unless a person has a colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy, which looks at the lower part of the colon. The condition usually results solely from regular use of certain forms of laxatives such as Senecot® which is made from senna or other plant-based substances such as aloe vera. This is not a serious disease, is often reversible, and has few symptoms. The main concern with finding melanosis coli is that it can suggest laxative abuse, which can lead to other very serious colon ailments.
Dark spots or brown spots in the colon appear to be made from melanin, a pigment, given the name melanosis coli. This is not the case. Regular use of certain laxatives, which generally exceeds the recommendations, can cause some cells in the colon tissues to die. Through the body’s processes, larger than normal cell death ends up having a dark color in various parts of the colon.
As mentioned, there are very few symptoms. Yet clearly, people who suffer from laxative abuse can have diarrhea quite frequently. Melanosis coli would not be suspected in most cases, unless a patient has a history of laxative abuse or overuse. Due to an outward lack of symptoms, this condition is typically not found unless sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy is performed.
At one point, melanosis coli was thought to suggest an increased likelihood of developing colon cancer, but this is now not an accepted view. However, if a doctor suspects laxative abuse is occurring; they will tell people to stop using laxatives. There are very difficult complications that can arise from laxative overuse and the only way to treat laxative abuse and begin to resolve the condition simultaneously is to stop using laxatives.
Having spots or shadows on any type of body scan is often a very scary thing. In this case, however, people shouldn’t have to worry about a diagnosis of melanosis coli, especially in terms of developing things like cancer. It is true that laxative abuse can lead to an increased risk of colorectal cancer, but the spots themselves do not suggest that any form of cancer is currently present.
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