What can cause bronzing of the skin?
Darker areas of skin (or an area that tans more easily) occurs when you have more melanin or overactive melanocytes. Bronzing of the skin may sometimes be mistaken for a suntan. This skin discoloration often develops slowly, starting at the elbows, knuckles, and knees and spreading from there.
What diseases can cause hyperpigmentation?
Common causes of widespread hyperpigmentation include melasma, drugs, cancers, and other systemic disorders. Test patients who have widespread hyperpigmentation not caused by drugs for disorders such as primary biliary cholangitis, hemochromatosis, and Addison disease.
What autoimmune diseases cause hyperpigmentation?
Lupus erythematosus (LE) is an autoimmune disorder commonly affecting the skin; cutaneous lesions may indicate systemic involvement, warranting further evaluation. Photosensitivity, which may result in hyperpigmentation, is a well-known feature of the disease.
What is pigmentary disease?
Pigmentary disorders typically indicate an increased amount of melanin, leading to darker color of the skin, called hypermelanosis or hyperpigmentation (Box 1). Decreased or absent pigment makes the skin appear lighter or white, known as hypomelanosis or hypopigmentation (Box 2).
Can liver problems cause hyperpigmentation?
According to Berman [1] some patients with hepatic disease demonstrate hyperpigmentation which is mostly associated with haemochromatosis and cirrhosis.
Is Addison’s disease fatal?
People with Addison’s disease must be constantly aware of the risk of a sudden worsening of symptoms, called an adrenal crisis. This can happen when the levels of cortisol in your body fall significantly. An adrenal crisis is a medical emergency. If left untreated, it can be fatal.
What causes the loss of pigment in the skin?
Vitiligo Vitiligo is a condition where the body’s immune system attacks pigment cells (melanocytes), causing pigment loss. Other immune system diseases associated with vitiligo include diabetes, pernicious anemia, thyroid disease, and Addison’s disease.
What causes changes in skin pigmentation in Addison’s disease?
Changes in skin pigmentation caused by Addison’s disease occur in most people suffering from the disease. When hyperpigmentation occurs it usually does so in areas which have more pressure placed on them, such as the knuckles.
What causes the discoloration of the skin around the eyes?
The discoloration is caused by increased amounts of the pigment (melanin) and the cells that produce this pigment (melanocytes) in and around the eyes. Patients with this type of birthmark are at a higher risk of developing a melanoma cancer of their eye or central nervous system.
What causes dark pigmentation on the inside of the mouth?
Addison’s disease causes dark pigmentation, called hyperpigmentation, on the skin as well as inside the mouth.