Pigmentary disorders represent a heterogeneous group of cutaneous and mucous changes. Recent years have witnessed an explosion in new information related to fundamental cutaneous biology, clinical classification, and treatment.
Nevertheless, in spite of this new information, social stigma still seems to be associated with some pigmentary disorders, and very few things can be more outrageously and incredibly discriminated against than the color of the skin. Surprisingly, irrational feelings about pigmentary disorders affect not only the patient, their family, and the general population, but, at some level, even the scientific community.
This issue of Dermatologic Clinics includes four different sections. The first section is devoted to the discussion of new information generated by the research in cutaneous biology on the anatomy and pathophysiology of the melanocyte and the melanin unit (Dr. J.J. Nordlund), new findings in melanocyte basic science research (Dr. K. Schallreuter), and evolutionary and social aspects of skin color (Dr. W. Westerhoff).
The second section deals with hypermelanoses and includes the diagnostic clue of melanocytic aggregation in the skin (Dr V. de Giorgi); information on the origin, clinical presentation, and diagnoses of facial hypermelanoses (Dr. A. Katsambas); hypermelanoses of the newborn and of the infant (Dr. A. Tai’eb); and the suggested approaches to the treatment of hypermelanoses, from the view of a leading European scientist (Dr. J.P. Ortonne) and an Asian expert (Dr. J.S. Pasricha).This section endswiththe article of Dr.M. Picardo on the new and experimental treatments of common and less common hypermelanoses.
The third section is devoted to the hypomelanoses. It includes an article on the origin, clinical presentation, and diagnosis of hypomelanotic skin disorders (Dr. K. Ongenae), a review of hypomelanotic conditions of the newborn and of the infant (Dr. R. Ruiz-Maldonado), a discussion of the rational approach to the treatment of hypomelanotic disorders (Dr. Hercogova´ ), and finally a review of the new and experimental treatments of vitiligo and other hypomelanoses (Dr. T. Lotti).
The fourth and last section of this issue on pigmentary disorders brings to the reader importantinformation on the prevalence, the perception, and the treatment of pigmentary disorders in the different regions of the world: Mediterranean Africa (Dr. M. El Mofty); Latin America (Dr. R. Falabella); Southeast Asia (Dr. S.K. Hann); China (Dr. X.J. Zhang); and the Western countries (Dr. J.P. Wietz van der Veen).
All the authors are well-known authorities in the field of pigmentary disorders, and their distinguished contribution brings valuable and original additions to the dermatology literature on this important and often controversial condition.
Nevertheless, in spite of this new information, social stigma still seems to be associated with some pigmentary disorders, and very few things can be more outrageously and incredibly discriminated against than the color of the skin. Surprisingly, irrational feelings about pigmentary disorders affect not only the patient, their family, and the general population, but, at some level, even the scientific community.
This issue of Dermatologic Clinics includes four different sections. The first section is devoted to the discussion of new information generated by the research in cutaneous biology on the anatomy and pathophysiology of the melanocyte and the melanin unit (Dr. J.J. Nordlund), new findings in melanocyte basic science research (Dr. K. Schallreuter), and evolutionary and social aspects of skin color (Dr. W. Westerhoff).
The second section deals with hypermelanoses and includes the diagnostic clue of melanocytic aggregation in the skin (Dr V. de Giorgi); information on the origin, clinical presentation, and diagnoses of facial hypermelanoses (Dr. A. Katsambas); hypermelanoses of the newborn and of the infant (Dr. A. Tai’eb); and the suggested approaches to the treatment of hypermelanoses, from the view of a leading European scientist (Dr. J.P. Ortonne) and an Asian expert (Dr. J.S. Pasricha).This section endswiththe article of Dr.M. Picardo on the new and experimental treatments of common and less common hypermelanoses.
The third section is devoted to the hypomelanoses. It includes an article on the origin, clinical presentation, and diagnosis of hypomelanotic skin disorders (Dr. K. Ongenae), a review of hypomelanotic conditions of the newborn and of the infant (Dr. R. Ruiz-Maldonado), a discussion of the rational approach to the treatment of hypomelanotic disorders (Dr. Hercogova´ ), and finally a review of the new and experimental treatments of vitiligo and other hypomelanoses (Dr. T. Lotti).
The fourth and last section of this issue on pigmentary disorders brings to the reader importantinformation on the prevalence, the perception, and the treatment of pigmentary disorders in the different regions of the world: Mediterranean Africa (Dr. M. El Mofty); Latin America (Dr. R. Falabella); Southeast Asia (Dr. S.K. Hann); China (Dr. X.J. Zhang); and the Western countries (Dr. J.P. Wietz van der Veen).
All the authors are well-known authorities in the field of pigmentary disorders, and their distinguished contribution brings valuable and original additions to the dermatology literature on this important and often controversial condition.