Diagnostic findings in Various Cutaneous Hypopigmented Disorders: A Scoping Review

Abstract

Introduction: Medical conditions can cause the skin to become hypopigmented or depigmented, mainly due to decreased production of melanin. Hypomelanosis is mainly benign and rarely malignant. Depigmentation refers to a complete lack of melanin, with the most common cause being vitiligo. Differentiating between these conditions can be difficult. Diagnosis of the condition is primarily based on the patient’s detailed history, clinical signs and symptoms, accurate evaluation, and dermoscopy. Repigmentation can occur following early diagnosis and appropriate management. Aim: To highlight diagnostic findings of various cutaneous hypopigmented macular lesions and patches. Materials and Methods: PubMed and Google Scholar databases were searched using a mix of terms, including “cutaneous disorders”, “dermoscopy”, “skin biopsy”, and “hypopigmented disorders” for this scoping review, which followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses for Scoping Review (PRISMA-ScR) guidelines. Boolean operators “AND” and “OR” were used between the keywords. The inclusion criteria consisted of articles with full text availability, articles describing various cutaneous disorders with characteristic morphology, diagnosis, types and subtypes, conditions associated with systemic diseases, histological examination findings, and prognosis of the condition, peer-reviewed papers with a comprehensive diagnosis of cutaneous hypopigmented diseases, histological biopsies. Randomised Controlled Trials (RCTs), review articles, case reports, and articles in the English language were included in this review. Results: Based on the selection criteria, a total of 12 studies were included in the review, describing various cutaneous disorders with characteristic morphology, diagnosis, types and subtypes, conditions associated with systemic diseases, histological examination findings, and prognosis of the condition. Conclusion: Knowledge regarding various outcomes from the studies related to diagnostic findings in various cutaneous hypopigmented disorders is essential for dermatologists for awareness, appropriate examination, and adequate treatment.

Keywords

• cutaneous disorders
• depigmentation
• dermoscopy
• histopathology
• hypomelanosis
• repigmentation
• vitiligo