Skin Pigmentation and Anatomy

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Questions and Answers

What is a common feature of McCune-Albright Syndrome?

Fibro-osseous lesions in a single bone

Fibro-osseous lesions in more than one bone (correct)

Café-au-lait skin pigmentation on the face only

Absence of endocrinal disorders

What is the cause of Post-inflammatory pigmentation?

Drug use

Genetic diseases

Smoking

Inflammation or injury (correct)

What is a symptom of some genetic diseases?

Café-au-lait macules on the face only

Multiple light brown skin spots (correct)

Single dark skin spot

White lesion on the lips

What can cause enlargement of the mandibular canal?

Neurofibromatosis Type I Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of Café-au-lait spots?

Light brown color Signup and view all the answers

What can cause lower lip numbness?

Neurofibromatosis Type I Signup and view all the answers

What can stimulate melanocytes?

All of the above Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the pigmentation that occurs in response to smoking?

Smoker's Melanosis Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of melanin in the nuclei of keratinocytes?

To protect against the harmful effects of actinic radiation Signup and view all the answers

What is the classification of pigmentation characterized by increased melanin production?

Melanotic pigmentation Signup and view all the answers

What is the name of the condition that occurs in dark-skinned individuals due to tobacco stimulation?

Smoker's melanosis Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the mask of pregnancy that involves facial skin and perioral regions?

Melasma Signup and view all the answers

What is the characteristic of the lesions of melanotic pigmentation?

They have no premalignant potential Signup and view all the answers

What is the effect of certain drugs on oral pigmentation?

They may induce macules of oral melanosis Signup and view all the answers

What is the difference between the number of melanocytes in white and dark people?

The number of melanocytes is the same in both Signup and view all the answers

What is the characteristic of the pigmentation that occurs in response to certain drugs?

It may remain for few months after withdrawal of the causative drug Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Mucosa Pigmentation

The mal pink color of the mucosa is due to light passing through the translucent epithelium, striking the capillary bed in the connective tissue, and reflecting back.
Melanocytes reside in the basal cell layer and produce melanin in melanosomes, which is then transferred to keratinocytes to protect their nuclei from actinic radiation.

Classification of Pigmentation

There are two types of pigmentation: melanotic and non-melanotic.

Melanotic Pigmentation

Caused by increased melanin production, which can be classified into two categories: diffuse/multifocal and focal.

Diffuse/Multifocal Melanotic Pigmentation

Can be physiologic (racial) and occurs in dark-skinned individuals, resulting in brown macules on the facial gingiva, lingual gingiva, and tongue.
Can be caused by smoking, leading to smoker's melanosis, which is characterized by small, bilateral, and brown macules on the buccal mucosa.
Can be drug-induced, resulting in macules of oral melanosis that may be diffuse, localized, or multifocal.
Examples of drugs that can cause drug-induced melanosis include antimalarials, oral contraceptives, and certain medications used to treat autoimmune diseases.

Focal Melanotic Pigmentation

Can be a symptom of certain genetic diseases, such as café-au-lait spots.
Café-au-lait spots are characteristic of McCune-Albright Syndrome and Neurofibromatosis Type I.

Post-Inflammatory (Inflammatory) Pigmentation

Occurs in areas that have been subjected to previous injury or inflammation.
Can occur in conjunction with oral lichen planus and oral lichenoid lesions, and may subside after resolution of the lesions.

Endocrinopathy

Can affect melanin production, as corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) have a direct stimulatory action on melanocytes.
Cortisol, a hormone produced by the adrenal gland, has a normal function in regulating melanin production.

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Description

Learn about the anatomy of skin pigmentation, including the role of melanocytes, melanin, and Keratinocytes in protecting the skin from actinic radiation. Understand the classification of pigmentation and more.