Acromelanosis Albo-Punctata: A Distinct Inherited Dermatosis with Acral Spotty Dyspigmentation without Systemic Involvement

Abstract

We describe an otherwise healthy 7-year-old boy who developed confetti-like hypopigmented macules on the dorsal aspects of the hands and feet, spreading to the palms and soles a few months after birth. In 1964 Siemens introduced the term acromelanosis albo-punctata to describe the skin features of a patient who has remained the only reported case in the literature so far and who strongly resembles our patient. By genetic testing we excluded mutations in genes known to be involved in diseases with acral hypo- or hyperpigmentation. We review the differential diagnosis of acral localized spotty dyspigmentation and conclude that acromelanosis albo-punctata may represent a distinct entity.

Acral speckled hypomelanosis

“…Dyschromatosis symmetrica hereditaria manifests in early childhood with a combination of hypopigmented and hyperpigmented macules on the dorsal hands and feet 10 . Acromelanosis albo-punctata is characterized by the generalized hyperpigmentation of the skin and confetti-like hypopigmented macules found mainly on the hands and feet 11 . These hypopigmented macules are also found to a lesser extent in flexural areas.…”