Cited 0 times in Scipus Cited Count

Melasma: histopathological characteristics in 56 Korean patients.

Authors
Kang, WH  | Yoon, KH  | Lee, ES  | Kim, J | Lee, KB  | Yim, H  | Sohn, S  | Im, S
Citation
The British journal of dermatology, 146(2). : 228-237, 2002
Journal Title
The British journal of dermatology
ISSN
0007-09631365-2133
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Melasma is a common acquired symmetrical hypermelanosis characterized by irregular light to dark brown macules and patches on sun-exposed areas of the skin. Its histopathological characteristics are not fully understood.



OBJECTIVES: To characterize the histopathological features of facial melasma skin in comparison with adjacent normal skin.



METHODS: Biopsies were taken from both melasma lesional skin and adjacent perilesional normal skin in 56 Korean women with melasma. The sections were stained using haematoxylin and eosin, Fontana-Masson, diastase-resistant periodic acid-Schiff, Masson trichrome and Verhoeff-van Gieson stains, and immunostaining for melanocytes. Data on the changes in number of melanocytes and melanin contents of the epidermis were analysed by a computer-assisted image analysis program. The ultrastructure of the skin was also examined.



RESULTS: The amount of melanin was significantly increased in all epidermal layers in melasma skin. The staining intensity and number of epidermal melanocytes increased in melasma lesions. Lesional skin showed more prominent solar elastosis compared with normal skin. Melanosomes increased in number and were more widely dispersed in the keratinocytes of the lesional skin. Lesional melanocytes had many more mitochondria, Golgi apparatus, rough endoplasmic reticulum and ribosomes in their cytoplasm. A dihydroxyphenylalanine reaction was apparent in the cisternae and vesicles of the trans-Golgi network in melanocytes from lesional skin.



CONCLUSIONS: Melasma is characterized by epidermal hyperpigmentation, possibly caused both by an increased number of melanocytes and by an increased activity of melanogenic enzymes overlying dermal changes caused by solar radiation.
MeSH

PMID
11903232
Appears in Collections:
Journal Papers > School of Medicine / Graduate School of Medicine > Dermatology
Journal Papers > School of Medicine / Graduate School of Medicine > Pathology
Journal Papers > School of Medicine / Graduate School of Medicine > Microbiology
Ajou Authors
강, 원형  |  손, 성향  |  윤, 경한  |  이, 기범  |  이, 은소  |  임, 성빈  |  임, 현이
Full Text Link
Files in This Item:
There are no files associated with this item.
Export

qrcode

해당 아이템을 이메일로 공유하기 원하시면 인증을 거치시기 바랍니다.

Items in DSpace are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.

Browse