Dyschromia of the skin: genesis and types of pigment formation disorders
Spectrum of dermatoses in the pathogenesis of which pigment cells are involved
Recently, the interest of dermatologists and cosmetologists in diseases with a violation of pigment formation has increased significantly. This is partly due to the initiative of the International Union Against Cancer, which called for researchers to focus their efforts on the study of pigment cells as the source of the malignant skin tumor - melanoma.
Dyschromia of the skin (Greek Dys- + chroma – color, color) – changes in the color of the skin. Skin pigmentation is due to the presence of four pigments: brown - melanin, which is deposited mainly in the basal layer of the epidermis; yellow - carotene, which comes with food and accumulates in the keratinocytes of the epidermis; red - oxygenated hemoglobin (oxyhemoglobin), which is found in the capillaries of the skin; blue - reduced hemoglobin (deoxyhemoglobin), which is in skin venules. Some authors distinguish a fifth pigment - melanoid, which is a product of the breakdown of melanin.
Melanin plays the main role in skin pigmentation. The skin color of the main human races (black, yellow and white) depends on its quantity and distribution, which is determined genetically and is called constitutional pigmentation.
The spectrum of dermatoses, in the pathogenesis of which pigment cells are involved, is very wide, they are divided into hypopigmentation, or leucoderma, and hyperpigmentation, or melanoderma. The most common diseases with excessive melanin production are hyperpigmentation. Excessive accumulation of melanin can be caused by various factors.
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