Becker's Nevus in a Male: A Case Report

Nevus is a group of melanocytes that grow together to form a benign growth on the skin. It is often a black lesion that may protrude from the skin. Becker's nevus is a hyperpigmented lesion that presents congenitally or is acquired. The pigmentation and unusually high hair growth might grow darker with time. Becker's nevus, which can interchangeably be called Becker's melanosis, is a rare disease usually presented by men. The following case is of a 21-year-old male who presented with a hyperpigmented lesion on his right arm. The lesion started at age 16 and increased in size gradually; it involved the flexor surface of the right elbow joint and showed hypertrichosis with irregular margins. On examination, the top dermis contained melanophages, and the basal layer was hyperpigmented. Based on clinical appearance and examination, Becker's nevus was diagnosed.

Amyloidosis Cutis Dyschromica in a 16-Year-Old Filipino Girl: A Case Report

Amyloidosis cutis dyschromica is a rare variant of primary cutaneous amyloidosis characterized by hyper- and hypopigmented macules. In this paper, we reported a case of a 16-year-old Filipino girl with hyper- and hypopigmented to depigmented macules on the upper and lower extremities, which started when she was 9 years of age.

Prevalence of oromucosal lesions in HIV positive patients receiving haart-A prospective clinical study

AIM

To determine the preponderance of oral mucosal lesions and conditions in patients receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) for Human Immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Patient tested Seropositive for HIV and on HAART therapy were clinically examined to evaluate prevalence of oral lesions.

RESULTS

In the pool of 152 HIV positive patients in the study, age ranged from 7 to 71 years, 67 were males and 85 females. The duration of the HAART medication was 43 months. Oral lesion was present in 51.32% of patients related to infection. Oral lesions seen in descending order of frequency were periodontitis, mucosal hyperpigmentation, acute gingivitis, oral candidiasis, linear gingival erythema, stomatitis, and nonspecific ulcers. Totally, 48.68% of patients had no oral lesions.

CONCLUSION

Majority of the HIV patients on HAART exhibited periodontitis (30.77%), mucosal hyperpigmentation (17.44%), gingivitis (10.77%), anemic stomatitis (11.28%), and other oral lesions accounted to 29.74% which may be attributed to Anti Retro Viral Therapy.

Melanogenic Difference Consideration in Ethnic Skin Type: A Balance Approach Between Skin Brightening Applications and Beneficial Sun Exposure

Human skin demonstrates a striking variation in tone and color that is evident among multiple demographic populations. Such characteristics are determined predominantly by the expression of the genes controlling the quantity and quality of melanin, which can alter significantly due to the presence of small nucleotide polymorphism affecting various steps of the melanogenesis process and generally linked to the lighter skin phenotypes. Genetically determined, constitutive skin color is additionally complemented by the facultative melanogenesis and tanning responses; with high levels of melanin and melanogenic factors broadly recognized to have a protective effect against the UVR-induced molecular damage in darker skin. Long-term sun exposure, together with a genetic makeup responsible for the ability to tan or the activity of constitutive melanogenic factors, triggers defects in pigmentation across all ethnic skin types. However, sun exposure also has well documented beneficial effects that manifest at both skin homeostasis and the systemic level, such as synthesis of vitamin D, which is thought to be less efficient in the presence of high levels of melanin or potentially linked to the polymorphism in the genes responsible for skin darkening triggered by UVR. In this review, we discuss melanogenesis in a context of constitutive pigmentation, defined by gene polymorphism in ethnic skin types, and facultative pigmentation that is not only associated with the capacity to protect the skin against photo-damage but could also have an impact on vitamin D synthesis through gene polymorphism. Modulating the activities of melanogenic genes, with the focus on the markers specifically altered by polymorphism combined with differential requirements of sun exposure in ethnic skin types, could enhance the applications of already existing skin brightening factors and provide a novel approach toward improved skin tone and health in personalized skincare.