Glossary for Hyperpigmentation

Medical terms related to Hyperpigmentation or mentioned in this section include:

• Addison's Disease: A rare progressive hormonal disorder characterized by insufficient production of certain hormones called adrenal corticosteroids.
• Adrenal gland symptoms: Symptoms affecting the adrenal glands
• Alkaptonuria: A rare inherited metabolic disease characterized by homogentisic aciduria, arthritis and ochronosis. Symptoms include darkening of urine, alkinization due to overproduction of homogentisic acid, arthritis in the large joints and black ochronotic pigmentation of cartilage and collagen tissue. However, many of these symptoms may not occur until middle age. The condition may also be caused by chronic phenol poisoning.
• Angioma: A benign tumor containing blood or lymph vessels.
• Becker's nevus: A rare skin disorder where an irregular pigmented patch on the skin slowly grows and becomes thick and hairy.
• Birthmark: Skin marking appearing from birth
• Cardiofaciocutaneous Syndrome: A rare genetic disorder characterized by short stature, congenital heart defects skin anomalies and frontal bossing.
• Carney syndrome: A very rare syndrome characterized by spotty pigmentation on the skin and the development of multiple benign tumors (myxoma) that can occur just about anywhere in the body but mainly in the skin, breast and heart and endocrine glands such as the thyroid and pituitary gland. The symptoms are highly variable depending on the location, size and number of tumors. Endocrine gland tumors can affect hormone production and hence result in a range of symptoms.
• Carotenemia, familial: A rare inherited metabolic disorder where an enzyme deficiency inhibits the conversion of beta carotene into vitamin A. Thus, patients have high beta carotene levels in the blood and low vitamin A levels. The condition causes intermittent orange discoloration of the face, palms and soles. Vitamin A supplements are of no benefit for this condition.
• Chemical poisoning - Paraffin wax: Paraffin wax is a chemical used mainly in the production of candles, paraffin papers, varnishes, floor polishes, food packaging, lubricants, cosmetics, wood waterproofing, cork and perfume extraction. The fumes from burning paraffin wax can be quite harmful if excessive inhalation occurs. Ingestion and other exposures to the chemical can cause various symptoms. The type and severity of symptoms varies depending on the amount of chemical involved and the nature of the exposure.
• Chloasma: Red facial marks in women related to hormones
• Chromosome 14 trisomy: A rare chromosomal disorder involving duplication of genetic material from chromosome 14 resulting in various abnormalities. The type and severity of symptoms varies depending on the amount and exact location of the genetic material that is duplicated.
• Chromosome 14 trisomy syndrome: A rare chromosomal disorder involving duplication of genetic material from chromosome 14 resulting in various abnormalities.
• Chromosome 14q deletion syndrome: A rare chromosomal disorder involving deletion of genetic material from the long arm (q) of chromosome 14 resulting in various abnormalities.
• Chronic Kidney Disease: Long-term and generally irreversible disease of the kidneys due to infection, obstruction, congenital diseases or generalised diseases causing failure of the kidneys' normal functions.
• Classic childhood ALD: Classic severe form of ALD in boys.
• Craniolenticulosutural dysplasia: A rare syndrome characterized by skeletal defects and an unusual facial appearance consisting mainly of a prominent forehead, wide-set eyes, broad nose and a prominent forehead with a birthmark.
• Cutaneomeningospinal angiomatosis: A rare inherited disorder involving a skin birthmark as well as a blood vessel malformation in the spinal cord (angioma). The severity of the spinal involvement is variable with neurological problems occurring as a result of compression of the spinal cord or bleeding. Other cases may be undiagnosed as the cause no symptoms.
• Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma: A malignancy of the T-cells which make up part of the body's immune system. The cancer is characterized by the excessive proliferation of T-cells which are a type of white blood cell. The degree of skin involvement is variable.
• Cyanosis: Blueness or purple coloring of skin.
• Dark skin: Darkening of the skin as a symptom
• Dermatofibroma: A benign skin growth that usually occurs on the legs but may affect the arms or trunk. The growth is usually discolored and contains hard, scar-like tissue. A minor injury such as an insect bite or a thorn can result in a dermatofibroma. The color of the nodule is variable (brown, pink, skin-colored, yellow, purplish).
• Dermatopathia pigmentosa reticularis: A very rare syndrome characterized mainly by increased skin pigmentation, thickened skin on palms and soles and reduced sweating.
• Dowling-Degos disease: A rare condition characterized by progressive enlargement of pigmented areas that occur on areas of creased or folded skin such as armpits, groin, breasts and limbs.
• Dyschromatosis symmetrica hereditaria 1: A very rare syndrome characterized mainly by patches of abnormal skin pigmentation affecting the face and back of hands and top of feet.
• Dyskeratosis Congenita: A rare genetic disorder characterized by sking pigmentation abnormalities, nail dystrophy and mucous membrane changes.
• Eczema: Skin rash usually from allergic causes.
• Erythema dyschromicum perstans:
• Excess skin pigmentation: A condition which is characterized by an abnormal excess of skin pigmentation
• Fanconi's anemia: Fanconi's anemia is a rare inherited blood disorder characterized by the inability of the bone marrow to produce blood cells. An increased incidence of leukemias and other cancers is associated with this condition and various skeletal abnormalities and other birth defects may also be present. The condition is present at birth but symptoms of the blood problems are often not evident until later in childhood - in rare cases, the condition may not be diagnosed until adulthood.
• Gaucher Disease: A rare inherited biochemical disorder characterized by the deficiency of the enzyme called glucocerebrosidase and accumulation of glycosylceramide (glucocerebroside). There are three forms of this disease: type 1, 2 and 3.
• Glucocorticoid deficiency, familial: A rare inherited disorder where the adrenals don't respond to ACTH resulting in glucocorticoid deficiency.
• Hay-Wells Syndrome: A rare genetic disorder characterized by ankyloblepharon, ectodermal dysplasia, and cleft lip and/or cleft palate.
• High Blood Iron: Where a patient has an elevated iron content of their blood
• Human carcinogen - Busulphan: Busulphan is deemed to be carcinogenic to humans. The carcinogenicity of the substance may be influenced by the duration and level of exposure.
• Human carcinogen - Cyclophosphamide: Cyclophosphamide is a chemical deemed to be carcinogenic to humans. The carcinogenicity of the substance may be influenced by the nature (e.g. inhalation, ingestion, skin contact), duration and level of exposure. Cyclophosphamide exposure is associated mainly with an increased risk of developing leukemia.
• Humeroradioulnar synostosis: A very rare syndrome characterized mainly by
• Hyperpigmentation: Excess skin pigment or coloration
• Hyperpigmentation in children:
• Hypopigmentation: Whitening of the skin from pigment loss
• Hypothyroidism: The decreased activity of the thyroid gland
• Incontinentia Pigmenti: A rare genetic skin pigmentation disorder characterized by eye, teeth, bone, nail and hair malformations as well as central nervous abnormalities and mental deficiency.
• Jaundice: yellowish discoloration of the skin and mucous membrane
• Kwashiorkor: A malnutrition state that is produced by severe protein deficiency
• LEOPARD Syndrome: A rare genetic disorder characterized by multiple lentigines, pulmonic stenosis, widely spaced eyes and deafness.
• Laugier-Hunziker syndrome: A rare skin abnormality involving flat pigmentated patches of skin on the lips and inside mouth as well as black streaky lines on the nails.
• Lichen simplex chronicus: Lichen simplex chronicus refers to thickened itchy skin that results from persistently rubbing or scratching an area of skin.
• Mastocytosis: A disorder where excessive amounts of mast cells proliferate in organs such as the skin, liver, bone, spleen and gastrointestinal tract. Mast cells occur in connective tissue and defend the body against disease by releasing histamine to stimulate the immune system.
• McCune-Albright Syndrome: A rare genetic multisystem disorder characterized by abnormal skin pigmentation and endocrine gland dysfunction and replacement of parts of bone tissue with fibrous material.
• Melanoma: Melanoma is the most dangerous type of skin cancer. It is the leading cause of death from skin disease. It involves cells called melanocytes, which produce a skin pigment called melanin. Melanin is responsible for skin and hair color.
• Minocycline - Teratogenic Agent: There is evidence to indicate that exposure to Minocycline during pregnancy may have a teratogenic effect on the fetus. A teratogen is a substance that can cause birth defects. The likelihood and severity of defects may be affected by the level of exposure and the stage of pregnancy that the exposure occurred at.
• Mole: Darkened growths on the skin; everyone has a few.
• Naegeli syndrome: An inherited skin disorder characterized by reticulated pigmentation on the skin. The skin on palms and soles may thicken and ability to sweat may be reduced.
• Nelson Syndrome: The rapid growth of a pituitary adenoma (tumor) after the surgical removal of both adrenal glands to treat Cushing's disease. The condition is triggered by the resultant loss of the regulatory function of cortisol.
• Neurocutaneous melanosis: A rare genetic disorder characterized by melanosis of the skin and central nervous system deterioration.
• Nevus: Any type of permanent skin mark
• Nevus of Ota: A very rare syndrome characterized by abnormal pigmentation of the eye and the skin surrounding the eye. Usually only one eye is affects and the discoloration often follows the distribution of the trigeminal nerve.
• Orange skin: Orange coloring of the skin
• POEMS syndrome: A very rare disorder that has widespread effects on the body: P - polyneuropathy, O - organopathy, E - endocrinopathy, M - monoclonal gammopathy, S - skin changes.
• Parry Romberg Syndrome: Wasting away of one side of the face.
• Persistent brown pigmentation: The persistent occurrence of a brown pigmentation
• Peutz-Jeghers Syndrome: A hereditary disorder involving the presence of numerous polyps in the lining of the small intestine and pigmentation around the lips, inside the mouth and on the palms and soles.
• Polycystic ovary syndrome: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is an endocrine disorder that affects approximately 5% of all women.
• Porphyria cutanea tarda, sporadic type: A rare metabolic condition involving a deficiency of the enzyme uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase in the liver only. Type II involves a deficiency of the same enzymes activity in various tissues throughout the body.
• Possible human carcinogenic exposure - Bleomycin: Some evidence indicates that exposure to Bleomycin has a possible link to an increased risk of developing cancer in humans. The carcinogenicity of the substance may be influenced by the duration and level of exposure. Bleomycin is used primarily as a chemotherapy drug.
• Pregnancy symptoms: Symptoms related to pregnancy.
• Primary biliary cirrhosis: Primary biliary cirrhosis is a chronic and progressive cholestatic disease of the liver.
• Proteus Syndrome: A rare genetic disorder characterized by overgrowth of bones, fatty tissues and skin in various parts of the body.
• Redness: Reddening of the skin.
• River Blindness: Skin and eye infection caused by the helminth (worm) 'Onchocerca volvulus', transmitted via fly bites and usually seen only in parts of Africa, the Middle East and South America
• Rothmund-Thomson Syndrome: A syndrome which is characterized by atrophy, pigmentation and telangiectasia of the skin.
• Scleredema adultorum: A rare skin condition characterized by thickening of the skin usually in the head, neck and upper body area. The disorder is often associated with conditions such as infections, myelomas and diabetes.
• Scleroderma: A rare, progressive connective tissue disorder involving thickening and hardening of the skin and connective tissue. There are a number of forms of scleroderma with some forms being systemic (involving internal organs).
• Scleroderma, systemic: A rare autoimmune connective tissue disease where the body attacks parts of the body and causes scarring and thickness of the tissue. In the systemic form, the skin and organs are involved.
• Silver poisoning: A type of heavy metal poisoning caused by excessive exposure to silver.
• Skin color changes: Skin changes such as redness, blueness, or whitening.
• Skin problems: Any condition that affects the skin
• Skin symptoms: Symptoms affecting the skin.
• Spastic paraplegia 23: A rare disorder characterized mainly by progressive stiffness and weakness of the leg muscles, premature graying, characteristic facial appearance and a skin pigmentation anomaly. Pigmentation anomalies usually start from the age of 6 months and leg problems may be noticed around the middle of the first decade.
• Spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia - nephritic syndrome:
• Spondylohypoplasia arthrogryposis popliteal pterygium: A very rare inherited syndrome characterized by webbing at the back of the knees, spinal defects and various other skeletal abnormalities.
• Spondylohypoplasia, arthrogryposis and popliteal pterygium: A very rare inherited syndrome characterized by webbing at the back of the knees, spinal defects and various other skeletal abnormalities.
• Stomach cancer: Stomach or gastric cancer can develop in any part of the stomach and may spread throughout the stomach and to other organs
• Tièche-Jadassohn nevus: A rare genetic disorder characterized by characteristic blue, slightly raised, sharply defined skin growths. The lesions can vary in size.
• Varicose veins: Appearance of veins in the skin
• Variegate porphyria: A rare metabolic disorder characterized by a deficiency of a certain enzyme which results in a build-up in the body of porphyrins or their precursors. This form of hepatic porphyria causes the sufferer to have acute attacks as well as skin sensitivity.
• Visceral leishmaniasis: A tropical disease caused by a protozoan organism and transmitted to humans through sand fly bites. Also called Assam fever, black fever, dumdum fever, ponos or kala-azar.
• Vitreoretinochoroidopathy dominant: A form of hereditary fundus dystrophy
• Whipple's Disease: Rare malabsorption disease from bacterial digestive infection
• Whitening: Whitening or reduced coloring of the skin
• Whyte Murphy Syndrome: A syndrome which is characterised by hyperpigmentation, white forelock and osteopathia striata
• Wolcott-Rallison syndrome: A very rare genetic condition characterized primarily by the onset of diabetes mellitus during infancy and epiphyseal dysplasia (abnormal joint development).
• Yemenite deaf-blind hypopigmentation syndrome: A condition which is characterised by the association of several symptoms which affect ones hearing and vision

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