Disorders of Pigmentation in Infants and Children
January 2002
in “
Clinics in Dermatology
”
TLDR Vitiligo causes white skin patches, often starts before age 20, and is linked to other health issues.
The document discussed various disorders of pigmentation in infants and children, focusing on vitiligo, freckles, and lentigines. Vitiligo, an autoimmune disorder causing ivory-white patches due to melanocyte destruction, affected 1-2% of the population and often had a genetic component, with 50% of cases occurring before age 20. Freckles, light brown macules less than 5 mm in diameter, appeared in fair-skinned individuals between ages 2 and 4, darkened in summer, and faded in winter. They were associated with several genetic disorders and had a normal melanocyte count. The document also referenced numerous studies and treatments related to these conditions.
