Lichen planus pigmentosus inversus with epidermal melanin granules

Exaggerated epidermal pigmentation in acquired dermal macular hyperpigmentation: an important finding

“…We read with interest the recent report in Clinical and Experimental Dermatology by Nakazato and Anan. demonstrating Fontana–Masson staining of epidermal melanin granules in a patient with lichen planus pigmentosus inversus . As authors of two large series on acquired dermal macular hyperpigmentation (ADMH), in both of which we reported the presence of epidermal melanization extending to epidermal layers beyond the basal layer, we suggest that this finding has important pathogenetic and therapeutic implications .…”

“…As authors of two large series on acquired dermal macular hyperpigmentation (ADMH), in both of which we reported the presence of epidermal melanization extending to epidermal layers beyond the basal layer, we suggest that this finding has important pathogenetic and therapeutic implications . Nakazato and Anan also point out that exaggerated epidermal pigmentation is usually a feature of other hyperpigmentary disorders such as melasma and seborrhoeic keratosis . Therefore, its presence in a disorder essentially characterized by interface dermatitis is intriguing.…”