What does idiopathic guttate hypomelanosis mean?

What does idiopathic guttate hypomelanosis mean?

Idiopathic Guttate Hypomelanosis (IGH) is a benign and asymptomatic skin manifestation characterized as diffuse hypopigmented macules, or white spots. The size of the lesions varies from 1-10mm, but are most commonly 1-3 mm in diameter.

Can you get rid of idiopathic guttate hypomelanosis?

Surgical techniques, from cryosurgery to dermabrasion, have been tried for idiopathic guttate hypomelanosis, with some success. Theoretically, cryotherapy would remove the damaged melanocytes, which would encourage normal melanocytes to replace them.

Is idiopathic guttate hypomelanosis permanent?

Idiopathic Guttate Hypomelanosis The spots are permanent,” warns Dr. Shainhouse. Aside from causing brown spots, too much sun exposure also destroys the skin’s melanocytes that result in these light spots that often appear on the arms and legs.

Does idiopathic guttate hypomelanosis spread?

Typically, idiopathic guttate hypomelanosis develops first on the legs of fair-skinned women in early adult life. Later, it may spread to other sun-exposed areas, such as the arms and the upper part of the back.

Can I get rid of IGH?

Unfortunately, treating IGH is particularly difficult. At-home treatments are limited to topicals which require months of regular application to achieve even minor results. Professional treatments offer quicker and typically more superior results, however, even the best available options will not fully fade spots.

Is IGH itchy?

The number of patches usually increases with time but individual lesions remain the same size, and cause no symptoms whatsoever except mild pruritus, in a few individuals.

How do you fix IGH?

Numerous modalities of treatment have been tried for this condition, including corticosteroid injections into the lesions, topical calcineurin inhibitors or retinoids, chemical peels or cryotherapy, dermabrasion and laser resurfacing of skin.

How do you fix idiopathic guttate hypomelanosis?

What is the treatment for idiopathic guttate hypomelanosis?

1. Cryotherapy — 5 second, single session, repigmentation visible by 4 months.
2. Topical treatments — topical steroid, tacrolimus, topical retinoids.
3. Procedural treatments — chemical peel, excimer laser, skin grafting.

Is IGH vitiligo?

[8] It is also known as disseminate lenticular leukoderma and can be mistaken for vitiligo. [9] IGH has to be distinguished in clinical practice from other depigmented and hypopigmented conditions such as leprosy, vitiligo, pityriasis alba, and pityriasis versicolor.

How do you fix idiopathic guttate Hypomelanosis?

Does IGH go away?

IGH is a benign condition with an excellent prognosis; however, once present, lesions do not remit without treatment.

When does idiopathic guttate hypomelanosis occur?

Idiopathic guttate hypomelanosis is a common acquired leukoderma characterized by multiple, discrete round or oval, porcelain-white macules on sun-exposed areas, especially on the extensor surface of forearms and pretibial areas. It usually affects individuals aged over 40 years and the likelihood of acquiring it increases with age.

How big are the macules of idiopathic guttate?

Idiopathic guttate hypomelanosis typically presents as smooth pale ( hypopigmented) or white (depigmented) macules 2–5mm (range up to 1.5cm) in diameter most commonly on the sun-exposed aspects of the forearms, shins, and V of chest. Lesions are usually multiple and asymptomatic. Three morphological variants have been described:

How big is a white spot from idiopathic hypomelanosis?

Idiopathic Guttate Hypomelanosis. Share |. Idiopathic Guttate Hypomelanosis (IGH) is a benign and asymptomatic skin manifestation characterized as diffuse hypopigmented macules, or white spots. The size of the lesions varies from 1-10mm, but are most commonly 1-3 mm in diameter.