Hyperpigmentations and their treatment - „bleaching“

Overview

Melanin is one of the factors of skin pigmentation.Changes in its amount,be it either an increaseor a decrease,may be experienced as a serious psycho-social problem by such patients.However,there must in the first place be eliminated some serious process such as malignant melanoma.In the paper there is at first described the formation ofmelanin. That is followed by a list of themost frequent hyperpigmentations subject to therapy by „bleeching“, such as ephelides, lentigosolaris, melasma, secondary hyperpigmentation, phototoxic reactions. Furthermore, there ispresented a review of therapeutic options. In more detail is mentioned the problem of local„bleaching“ agents, namely those that at present are being applied most often. Described arealso the problems of peeling, physical therapy, the combination of therapeutic options, andstressed is the necesity of photoprotection.

Key words:
melanin - hyperpigmentation - therapy - photoprotection.