Nevus depigmentosus is a skin disorder that causes hypopigmented or depigmented patches on the skin. It is not progressive, cannot be treated, and is often present from birth. It is different from vitiligo and albinism and can be hidden with cosmetics. Sunscreen is recommended, and laser removal or transplantation may be options for small areas.
Nevus depigmentosus, or achromic nevus, is a skin problem in which specific areas of the skin appear to be hypopigmented or depigmented. The lesions of this skin disorder appear as pale or white patches that are not elevated, are inborn or congenital, and are not progressive or do not spread or resolve with age. Unlike vitiligo, which is a multifactorial disease with destruction of epidermal melanocytes, and albinism, which results from disorders of melanocytes development or differentiation, nevus depigmentosus involves decreased melanin production by melanocytes. It can also be mistaken for a similar-looking skin disorder called anemic nevus, but it does not redden after applying friction, unlike anemic nevus. Nevus depigmentosus cannot be treated, but it can be hidden through the appropriate use of cosmetics.
White or hypopigmented lesions do not increase in size, although enlargement may be noted, but is often proportional to the growth of the child. They are usually limited to the trunk and upper arms and legs. The distribution model can appear as leaf, linear or segmented. About 19% of people have these lesions at birth.
There is no pattern of inheritance in nevus depigmentosus, so it is not known whether this skin disorder is a dominant or recessive trait. Most newborns with nevus depigmentosus have no manifestations until they are infants or toddlers. The primary pathology of nevus depigmentosus is decreased melanin production, so localized albinism is not an accurate description because albinism involves problems with the development or differentiation of melanocytes, or the melanin-producing cells responsible for human pigmentation.
To diagnose nevus depigmentosus, dermatologists use several criteria such as the presence of hypopigmented or white lesions from birth or early in life, lack of changes in distribution during life, lack of sensory disturbances in the affected area, and lack of hyperpigmentation that surrounds the affected area. Associated symptoms are very rare, although some patients have shown symptoms such as seizures, mental retardation, sensitive skin and yellow hair. Patients have reduced melanin and are more prone to sunburn, so it is best for them to always use sunscreen or sunscreen products on the affected areas. Probably the best way to deal with nevus depigmentosus lesions, particularly among self-conscious individuals, is to use cosmetics to cover the affected areas. Laser excision or removal of the lesion can only be done if a small area of skin is involved, while another treatment option, called melanocyte-keratinocytes transplantation (MKTP), has limited success.
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