Causes of age spots on a child's face. Skin pigmentation in children: normal and abnormalities

The skin is a complex multi-layered organ that performs protective functions. But sometimes pigment spots appear on the skin of a child. What is the reason for this, and is it dangerous?

What parents need to know to prevent complications and Negative consequences? How to distinguish pigmentation from other neoplasms? About this and much more - in the text.

In infants or children up to one year from birth, the occurrence of age spots often refers to congenital pathologies that are caused by:

Genetic predisposition;
Difficult labor and complications;
But there is also an acquired disease associated with pigmentation.

In any case, if such skin defects are detected, a comprehensive diagnosis should be carried out to identify the causes of the spots and how to eliminate them. Some tumors require urgent removal. Others are completely safe and do not require treatment.

Types of stains

Doctors include the main types of appearance of such spots on the skin of a newborn:

Hemangioma - pink and red spots on the skin and internal organs associated with disruption of the circulatory system, may disappear by the age of 7, or may develop into malignant neoplasms, requiring diagnosis and observation;
“Mongolian spot” – associated with genetics, can disappear on its own by the age of 5, does not require treatment;
– moles that require diagnosis and, if necessary, removal or treatment;
“coffee” spots – appear in the first two weeks of a baby’s life and disappear on their own, do not require medication or other treatment;
“stork’s kiss” – pink formations on the face or head, caused by trauma to the skin, no treatment needed;
Freckles - appear in children after one year, do not require treatment and noticeably fade by the age of 25; if the owner wishes, they can be removed in various ways.

In any case, pigment spots in infants require consultation with specialists. Only a qualified doctor can make a decision on their removal or treatment.

Causes of occurrence in infants

The pigmented form of neoplasms on any part of the baby’s body can be caused by the following reasons:

Hereditary predisposition;
Injuries during fetal development;
Birth injuries;
Pathologies during pregnancy;
Reception medicines mother during pregnancy.

To understand what to do with the pigmentation of a newborn, you need to undergo an examination. Depending on the cause of the appearance and nature of the development of the tumor, the doctor will decide on further actions.

If, for example, a baby has a pigment spot on his lip. Only laboratory and clinical studies will help to understand what type it is - either it is a coffee stain that does not require treatment, or a nevus that needs to be examined to avoid unnecessary complications.

Causes of appearance in older children

Why does pigmentation appear on a child’s body in adulthood? In addition to the reasons stated above, this phenomenon is often observed in children:

Staying in the sun for a long time;
With reduced immunity;
With a lack of vitamins and essential microelements in the body;
With diseases of the stomach or other digestive organs;
At sudden changes climatic conditions;
With metabolic disorders;
Having infectious diseases;
With hormonal surges - in adolescence;
With prolonged or chaotic use of medications.

Any age spots on a child’s body require diagnosis, since some of them are symptoms of serious diseases, for example, neurofibromatosis. Timely diagnosis and treatment will prevent the occurrence of serious complications.

The danger of pigmentation for children and treatment

A seemingly harmless pigment spot in a child one way or another requires consultation with a specialist. Parents themselves will not be able to decide whether a small spot can develop into a tumor or, worse, into a malignant formation.

Therefore, only clinical and laboratory studies can confirm or refute the danger of a new formation in the body of a baby or teenage child. Determining the cause of the spots is the main task of the doctor.

If this is associated with diseases of the internal organs, then the doctor will begin to eliminate the main cause, that is, drug treatment diseased organ.

If with hormonal disorders. This will stabilize the functioning of the hormonal system. If there is an infection in the body, then fight the infectious disease.

Methods used by adults, such as peeling and dermabrasion, are completely unacceptable for treating children. For children, there is a wide range of techniques that are aimed at painlessly and effectively getting rid of formations.

If treatment is required, it may be:

Conservative;
Surgical.

The first type includes:

Ointments;
Creams;
Pills;
Suspensions;
Injections;
Methods traditional medicine: compresses, lotions, baths.

The surgical method is used for children who have reached 3 months of age - not earlier.

Stains are removed using several methods:

By injection with quinine;
Cryotherapy;
Radiation therapy;
Electrocoagulation.

If the doctor does not advise treating the stain, then there is no need to experiment on a child by applying raw potatoes or radishes. The specialist will recommend a traditional method if necessary.

Natural ingredients in the form of natural vegetables and fruits are used to remove many stains. So that freckles become paler, use folk recipes from the pulp of cucumber, watermelon, and parsley. Then the pulp of these cultures is applied to the area with pigmentation for 10-20 minutes, then wiped with a sterile swab with cool water.

Self-treatment, even with natural ingredients, is excluded; only a doctor can prescribe one or another folk recipe - as an addition to the main treatment process.

Bottom line

Pigment spots in children have a different nature of occurrence and often do not require any medical intervention, but if it is still needed, then it must be treated strictly in accordance with the doctor’s recommendations.

You shouldn’t buy your baby an expensive, fashionable cream for freckles, because these formations can go away on their own. Moreover, they do not interfere with a small child in any way.

Any medications, even harmless folk methods, require consultation with a doctor. Take care of your children's health. And monitor the external condition of their skin more often; if even the most microscopic spot appears, consult a doctor. What if it's a hemangioma? Which requires treatment and can cause serious irreversible consequences.

Species age spots in children some. The most common are moles, hemangiomas and freckles, although absolute primacy is given to moles or “nevi”. They occur in almost 90% of the population. Mole ( birthmark) is an area of skin that is malformed and has modified melanocyte cells. Age spots in children may be different shapes and different shades - from light beige to almost black.

In addition to color, pigment spots (in people in general, and in children in particular) can also differ in size. Hemangiomas are reddish or bluish vascular formations on the surface of the skin. As a rule, such spots appear on children's skin in the face area, but they can also appear on the back or stomach. The cause of the formation of hemangiomas is a congenital anomaly in the development of vascular tissue. In some cases, a hemangioma appears as a red dot and does not bother the child in any way, but it also happens when the hemangioma behaves unpredictably: it begins to grow quickly.

Freckles are also frequent guests on a child’s body. They brighten in winter time and become noticeable again with the arrival of spring. Freckles are considered congenital pigment spots, and the only way their treatment is skin whitening.

Age spots in children - precautions

Special care for age spots is not required, but parents still need to be attentive to them. The child must be protected from scuffs and scratches on the mole to prevent infection. Trauma to a birthmark can cause a malignant tumor. If a child's pigment spot increases in size, discomfort in the area of the pigment spot, the color or structure changes, you should immediately consult a pediatrician.

If necessary, the pediatrician will refer the child to a specialized specialist. In cases where the age spot is not located on the face and does not interfere with the child cosmetically, there is no need to take any measures regarding the spot.

There is no need to remove pigment spots from a child if they do not pose any danger. If they bother parents and the child, then it is necessary to make a decision about surgery together with a pediatric oncologist.

Reading time: 6 min.

Melanin is a natural pigment, the amount of which determines the color of the skin, hair and eyes. If any disturbances occur in the body, a pigment spot may appear in a certain area of the skin - an area of hyper- or hypopigmentation. Pigment spots occur especially often in infants and children. preschool age. In order to understand the causes of this phenomenon and understand how dangerous such changes in skin color are, you need to know what types of age spots there are and what consequences they can entail.

Pathological skin pigmentation can result from exposure to exogenous (external) and endogenous (internal) factors. Today, doctors have identified several dozen reasons why a child may develop a pigment spot. These include:

genetic predisposition. Some features of melanin metabolism can be inherited, which leads to the appearance of excessive pigmentation in a child. According to statistics, if parents have pigment spots, then with a probability of more than 60% they will appear in their children.
hypovitaminosis and insufficient intake of minerals from food. As a rule, hypovitaminosis is observed in winter spring period, sometimes a lack of vitamins may occur if the child is bottle-fed.
immunodeficiencies (congenital and acquired). For pathologies immune system, melanocytes can be destroyed under the influence of their own antibodies - this leads to the appearance of areas of depigmentation.
chronic diseases of internal organs. Severe intoxication, diseases of the digestive, cardiovascular, endocrine and nervous systems can lead to disruption of melanin synthesis.
intrauterine pathologies of the circulatory system;
hormonal imbalances during mother's pregnancy, bad habits, allergic reactions and sexually transmitted diseases - all of this affects the development of the child and can lead to hyperpigmentation or a lack of melanin in the future;
prolonged exposure to ultraviolet radiation. If the skin is exposed to such radiation for a long time, the body synthesizes a large amount of melanin as a compensatory reaction.
mechanical, physical and chemical irritants acting on the skin from the outside. In newborns, the skin is especially sensitive to chemical compounds contained in household chemicals, as well as cosmetics for care. Excessive pressure on the skin, friction, and exposure to low or high temperatures can also cause pigment spots to appear.

Each of the above factors can play a decisive role in the development of age spots. The risk group includes children suffering from congenital defects, premature newborns and infants with other skin diseases. If a child has pigment spots, it is necessary to contact a pediatrician who will examine the skin and draw a conclusion about what type of pathological pigmentation this formation belongs to.

The main types of age spots

There are several types of pigment spots in a child, each of them looks different and has its own characteristics of course and therapy. The main types of pathological pigmentation are:

nevi (moles). These are small round formations with smooth edges, which can be either dark or light. Nevi appear either during intrauterine development, or in the first few years of life. It often happens that such formations are not observed in infants, but by the age of 3 several small moles appear in 95% of children.
ephelides (freckles). These are small areas of hyperpigmentation that appear in the spring (when the skin is exposed to UV radiation). Most often they are localized on the face, neck, shoulders and back. They may decrease on their own during the cold season and go away with age.
hemangiomas. This is a red spot that can be localized on any part of the body. Its appearance is due to the fact that in a certain place the vessels grow too much.
Mongolian spots. Observed in children of the Mongoloid race, they look like small hemorrhages and disappear on their own after a few years.
medial spots of newborns. These are small spots that are located on the back of the head or neck. They are pale pink in color, but may turn red during physical or mental stress (for example, when motor activity or while crying, breastfeeding). They disappear without a trace after 6-24 months.
telangiectasia. This is a persistent and constant expansion of subcutaneous vessels (capillaries, arterioles, venules). It occurs as a result of difficult labor and is often observed in premature babies.
warty neoplasms. They are usually gray or light brown in color, are very rare and, if the skin is extensively affected, require surgical intervention.
Setton's nevus. This is a nevus big size, around which hypopigmentation is observed (like vitiligo).

All age spots should be constantly under the close attention of parents and doctors. If a mole or nevus quickly enlarges, the edges become uneven and asymmetrical - this is a reason to urgently contact a medical institution. Consulting a doctor will help determine the type of pigment spot, make a differential diagnosis with other skin lesions (for example, infectious or allergic), and also take the necessary treatment measures, if necessary.

Age spots in children: main complaints and symptoms

The main complaint that parents make when contacting a pediatrician is pigmentation disorders (excessive pigmentation or depigmentation - white spots on the skin). In most cases, this condition does not bother the child or disturb his condition, however, this does not mean that it is not necessary to monitor the development and progression of the pigment spot.

Nevi, moles and other conditions with symptoms of pathological pigmentation are localized, usually on the face, neck or torso - these are the areas of the body that are most susceptible to adverse factors environment(including insolation with UV rays). Pigment spots often appear on the arm or leg. The color of these areas of the skin may vary: pink, bright red, brown, and black pigment spots are observed. Often, the color and size of the area with impaired pigmentation is one of the main diagnostic signs.

Some types of pigmentation disorders (such as freckles or medial newborn spots) appear in clusters. In most cases, pigment spots are round or oval shape with smooth edges. Some types of hyperpigmentation may cause dryness and flaking. skin next to the age spot.

Diagnosis of age spots: what examinations are necessary in this case?

If signs of illness are detected, you should immediately consult a doctor. The pediatrician can refer the child to a consultation with a dermatologist, as well as other specialized specialists - this is necessary in order to exclude all possible concomitant pathologies of internal organs.

At the initial appointment, the dermatologist conducts a questioning and collects an anamnesis - during these procedures, he finds out how long ago the pigment spot appeared, how it developed, and whether there are any other disorders in the general condition of the child. The dermatologist also collects allergy and family history (this is necessary to exclude possible genetic diseases, as well as other skin diseases). After this, the doctor conducts an examination: assesses the size, location, shape, color, symmetry of the formation, and the nature of its edges. If necessary, dermatoscopy is performed.

If it is not possible to accurately differentiate a pigment spot from infectious or allergic skin diseases, a specialist can take scrapings from the skin and do a biopsy. Sometimes it is also necessary to carry out laboratory tests such as general analysis blood and urine (these tests will help the doctor determine the child’s health status).

In 90% of cases, after consulting a specialist, parents do not need to take any radical measures. If the spot is evenly colored, has smooth, clear edges, is symmetrical, and does not exceed 5-7 mm in diameter, then you just need to observe this formation.

Parents are advised to monitor the condition of the spot monthly and also measure it - if it suddenly begins to increase, they should contact the clinic. Pediatricians also advise covering the area of hyperpigmentation with clothing while walking (especially in spring and summer). Under no circumstances should you cover a mole with a band-aid - this can aggravate its condition and speed up its growth. You also need to explain to the child that the mole cannot be touched, but if damage occurs, you need to urgently consult a doctor. Also, constant itching, burning and discomfort in the area of hyperpigmentation should be a signal to contact a specialist.

Surgery

Remove or lighten the stain using traditional and traditional methods only after consulting a doctor. Surgical treatment can be done either with a laser or by radical excision. As a rule, with a small lesion, the doctor selects an individual course of laser therapy. During this procedure, the rays of the device act on the skin, making the pigment lighter. When excising a birthmark, all affected layers of skin are locally removed, and the material obtained during the operation is sent for histological examination. Based on its results, one can judge whether the tumor is benign or malignant.

Application of whitening creams

Almost all creams for age spots contain components that cannot be used before the age of 12-14 years, so their use is not recommended. IN adolescence The use of whitening creams based on milk proteins, niacinamide and betaine is allowed.

Most modern whitening creams not only lighten age spots, but also intensively moisturize the skin, normalize melanin production, and protect the epidermis from exposure to ultraviolet radiation. It is necessary to apply medicinal cosmetics in courses, between which it is necessary to take breaks. Whitening creams should be selected by a specialist on an individual basis.

Dignity unconventional methods therapy is, first of all, that they can be used to treat age spots in childhood. They are also quite cheap, and sometimes all the ingredients can be found in the refrigerator. Most effective means The following are recognized in traditional medicine:

Despite the fact that some folk remedies have been used for several millennia, individual hypersensitivity reactions cannot be ruled out. Therefore, before using any method of alternative medicine, you must consult your doctor. More effective recipes traditional medicine.

What does Dr. Komarovsky say: are age spots dangerous?

The famous pediatrician, Dr. Komarovsky, has repeatedly touched upon the topic of moles, vitiligo and other pigmentation disorders in childhood in his speeches. The doctor says that areas of hyperpigmentation need to be treated with special caution - because cancer cells can develop in them. But this is not a reason to immediately remove moles if they appear. Komarovsky says that The best way Preventing skin cancer (melanoma) means constantly monitoring the condition of nevi. A well-known doctor insists on a monthly examination of the skin, and moles in hard-to-reach places (in the groin folds, armpits, on the scalp). In order to remember the main signs that it is time to see a doctor, the doctor suggests examining each mole using the ACORD algorithm. This is an abbreviation that stands for:

asymmetry (should not be observed);
the edges of the mole (should be clear and even);
color (the mole should be uniform);
size (“safe” nevi in diameter do not exceed 6-7 mm);
dynamics (rapid progression and growth should not be observed).

If a child has a tendency to develop age spots, you need to keep a notebook in which you write down all the data about each mole every month. If you do this regularly and carry out proper examination, you can detect skin cancer in the early stages.

Age spots in children are a cosmetic defect, but, in most cases, it does not cause any inconvenience. Often, in order to avoid the progression of tumors and the appearance of complications, it is enough to monitor their condition, undergo timely examinations by a pediatrician, and also protect the skin from the sun and other irritating environmental factors.

Pigment spots on the body of children are a common phenomenon, and the whole point is a change in the color of the skin pigment - melanin; this failure can occur for various reasons. Spots can be congenital or acquired; they can disappear over time or, conversely, increase in size. This is a kind of cosmetic flaw that interferes with living in a modern society that is strict about beauty, especially for the female sex.

Such age spots in a child alarm parents, because they want to see their baby beautiful and healthy. But you must understand that not every age spot is harmful to health or indicates internal pathology. Let's look at this in this article.

Pigmentation: what is it?

The human skin is the most important protective mechanism that protects the body from rapid drying out, the entry of microorganisms, and other harmful factors and, of course, provides an aesthetically beautiful appearance.

In these processes, the skin color pigment, melanin, plays an important role, and it is its failures and accumulation on the skin that are called pigmentation. What reasons could cause a malfunction of such an important substance? In order to talk about a problem with accuracy, you first need to know it in person. In normal cases, the spot has a brown or pinkish color, smooth rounded edges.

The sizes can be very different and even merge into one large area. A dermatologist can easily determine the presence of a problem by their grouping, since pigment spots usually accumulate in one specific place.

Most often, this problem occurs and develops with age. But why do young children suffer?

Age spots in children: causes

Have you discovered a problem in the form of age spots on your children's skin? Experts divide the reasons why this cosmetic defect manifests itself into two main groups:

congenital;
acquired.

The first category includes the child's genetic predisposition. If one of the parents had such a defect, then it may well be passed on to the baby. Congenital pigmentation may also appear due to disturbances during childbirth.

Acquired factors

Pigment spots in children under one year of age can also appear due to the presence of diseases of internal organs or environmental factors, especially with prolonged influence.

Pigmentation can be caused by:

intestinal or stomach diseases;
injuries of various types;
metabolic disorders;
a sharp imbalance in climate or food intake;
use of medications;
disruptions or other hormonal imbalances.

Types of pigmentation

Small children, including infants, may have the following types of age spots:

hemangioma;
coffee stains;
a kiss from a stork;
nevus;
Mongolian spot;
kisses of the sun.

In some cases, doctors advise removing pigment spots from a child, but often there is no such need. Therefore, it is important to notice the problem in time and consult a specialist; only he will be able to correctly determine the nature and type of neoplasm.

What is hemangioma?

This spot is pink or red in color. It differs from pigmentation in that it is not a cluster of pigment cells, but a benign tumor. It is formed when blood vessels are damaged and often occurs in children under six months of age. If you pay attention to the statistics of medical experts, girls are more likely to develop hemangioma.

The reasons for its growth are simple - a violation during the development of the fetus in the womb, or more precisely, during the formation of the circulatory system or during labor of the mother.

In more than 80% of cases, hemangioma goes away by 6-7 years, and the remaining 20% may develop further in the transition period, this factor depends on changes in hormonal levels.

Such spots can appear not only on the skin of the face, but also on internal organs. This is their danger, because it can lead to damage or malfunction of the body's systems. If a child has a red pigment spot on the face, stomach or back of the head, immediately consult a doctor and get examined.

Is treatment required or not?

It is better to remove this aesthetic defect in the following cases:

rapid growth of the tumor, visible to the naked eye;
change in color or shape of the spot;
bleeding from hemangioma.

Treatment has two types: conservative and surgical. Surgical procedures are performed only in the presence of risk factors and after three months after birth.

You can also remove pigmentation using the following methods:

freezing with liquid nitrogen;
quinine injections;
radiation therapy;
cauterization with electrodes.

What is a nevus, is it dangerous?

Nevus also has another more understandable name - mole. But, as you know, moles are dangerous because a harmless spot can change in a matter of days and turn into a malignant tumor. That is why various skin defects need to be examined and constantly monitored.

If the nevus begins to change shape, size or color, or if hair or nodes appear from it, you need to consult a doctor and conduct a full medical examination.

The reasons that triggered the growth of moles may be the baby’s genetic tendency or problems with endocrine system. The doctor determines the nature and rate of growth and, based on this, prescribes conservative or surgical treatment.

Kisses of the sun

Another name for this defect is freckles; they appear in children over one year of age if there is a genetic predisposition on the part of relatives. These spots are slightly darker than the skin color.

The most interesting thing is that in the summer, when the epidermis is exposed to ultraviolet radiation large quantities, they darken and lighten in winter. These genetic defects can affect not only the forehead, nose and chin, but also the shoulders, back and legs.

Previously, people with such an aesthetic feature were considered to come from the lower strata of the population, but in our time it is simply an individual trait of a person that makes him special and more attractive. The sun's kisses in many cases begin to lighten and disappear by the age of 25.

But among the “bright people” there are those who are dissatisfied with their appearance, especially the female gender.

To remove freckles, methods are used that will help you become more confident:

usage folk recipes at home;
special whitening in beauty parlors or salons;
freezing with liquid nitrogen;
exfoliation of the skin using chemicals;
laser therapy;
application of light waves.

Before you decide to take drastic measures, you must think everything through carefully, because any of the methods has a traumatic effect on the skin layers of the epidermis, which in turn can lead to irreversible consequences, for example, scars.

Today we will talk about the problem regarding the child’s skin color and pigmentation, since parents often have many questions about moles, age spots and more serious problems with the skin and its color. But we will start traditionally with the normal functioning of the skin and its color.

What determines the color of a baby's skin?

This is usually determined by the content of melanin in the skin, the number of blood vessels - arteries and veins, as well as the thickness of the stratum corneum of the skin. The main skin pigment is melanin, which is deposited in skin cells and determines eye color, skin color and hair color. The more it is, the darker the shade will be. In addition, melanin-containing cells play the role of a sun filter, which reduces the negative effects of ultraviolet radiation on the skin, reducing the likelihood of burns and reducing its negative effects on tissue.

Usually, the color of eyes, hair and skin tone are inherited from parents to children, but the color of the skin, unlike eyes and hair, can change under the influence of body hormones and the action of the sun (a tan is formed). The stronger and longer the exposure to sunlight, the more active the stimulation of melanin-containing cells and the more the skin darkens. With inactive sun exposure and ultraviolet rays(autumn-winter), the skin gradually becomes pale as melanin is gradually destroyed. Thus, the ability to tan is a protective reaction of the skin. A kind of “dark glasses” for the skin, protecting it to a certain extent from damage.

What problems can there be with pigmentation?

If we talk about all the pigmentation disorders that can arise as a result of the deposition of the melanin pigment in cells, we can distinguish two broad areas - hypermelanosis (hyperpigmentation), when there is too much melanin, and hypomelanosis (hypopigmentation), when there is little or no melanin, so too It happens. All these problems can be global, affecting the entire body as a whole, or local, in a limited area of the body. Often these problems are caused by problems in hormonal metabolism, such as bronchial or Addison's disease, in other problems it can be defects in tissue development as a result of disease, infection or genetic problems, and pigmentation can also be the result of skin inflammation or the appearance of a rash.

Excess pigment.

Hypermelanosis or excess pigment can be epidermal, when a brown coloration of the skin occurs, and intradermal, then the skin tone will be grayish, bluish or close to it (similar to the effect of tattoos). Hyperpigmentation can occur throughout the body, and it can be uniform, patchy, or occupy only a separate area. There may be a variant of diffuse congenital melanosis, in which the hands also suffer, but this happens rarely. Dark skin is a constitutional feature of some nationalities.

Basically, if we talk about the pathology of pigments, an increase in the intensity of skin color outside of tanning can be due to problems with the adrenal glands, pancreatic tumors or problems with the lungs, with kidney failure or liver failure. Fortunately, such problems are extremely rare. More often, spots of hyperpigmentation appear on the skin of the body due to problems with nutrition or illnesses of the body - this occurs with a deficiency of vitamin B16 or B6, with a deficiency of vitamin A or others. Usually, pigmentation remains near skin lesions or minor injuries, tanning is uneven, etc.

Freckles and other pigmented elements in children.

Freckles, or scientifically “ephelides,” on the face and body are small pigmented spots that are located on the skin and do not rise above its level, usually localized on the nose, on the cheeks, and in the shoulder area. They are not dangerous; they usually become brighter in the sun. This is a hereditary feature of the structure of the skin.

There may also be larger pigment spots that have a café-au-lait color - they can be a variant of the norm, like a pigment spot (birthmark), or they can be the appearance of a special disease - neurofibromatosis. Then similar accumulations of pigment form in the area of the nervous system; if there are several spots on the body, a doctor’s consultation is necessary. There is also a special leopard syndrome, the appearance of pigment spots on the body of dark Brown, may be combined with deafness, heart defects and growth problems. Such problems rarely occur. Variants of nevi (moles) may appear - pigment spots that accumulate in the skin, they can be brown or bluish - depending on the depth of their occurrence. If they are not growing or causing concern, then they are not dangerous and only require observation.

Hypopigmentation in children.

The most famous of this group is albinism - white skin with blond hair And blue eyes. In this case, albinism can be either total or partial - with partial there may be individual strands of bleached hair, eyelashes, eyebrows, spots without pigment on the body that do not disappear over time. A special condition with pigmentation disorders is vitiligo, a special disease of pigment metabolism. Let's talk about it in more detail.

The cause of vitiligo is considered to be a pathology of heredity with autosomal recessive inheritance, and there is evidence of its appearance in cases of problems with nervous system, metabolic disorders and endocrine dysfunctions. In the affected areas of the skin, along with pigmentation, sweating and production are reduced. sebum, fewer muscle and vascular elements. Other causes include copper deficiency, thyroid disease and problems with sulfur metabolism. Some authors believe that the manifestations of vitiligo are attributed to breakdowns of the immune system - autoimmune pathologies.

The disease can appear at different ages - from early childhood to adulthood, but girls in preschool and early childhood are more often affected. school age, especially during puberty. First, pale pink spots appear on the body, which gradually lose pigmentation and become white. They can be different in size - from very small to quite large, have clear boundaries with healthy skin, can be round or oval, and gradually tend to merge into one common field. There may be areas of excessive pigmentation or normal color along the edges of the skin. When exposed to the sun, the spots stand out brighter against the background of dark and tanned skin. If vitiligo is located in the scalp area, the hair in this area becomes discolored.

Areas of lack of pigmentation can be single, only in one place, or multiple; the location can be in any part of the body - usually the face in the area of the eyes and mouth, neck, arm or leg area, and areas of the external genitalia. The process is chronic. Progresses with age. Sometimes in the area of vitiligo, alopecia areata (baldness) can be observed if it is the head, or hair loss if it is the body.

The diagnosis is made based on examination, but it is important for the doctor to determine that it is vitiligo, since there is a group of diseases similar to it. Sometimes areas similar to vitiligo form in the area of passing psoriasis or eczema, at the site of pityriasis versicolor, therefore, additional diagnostics will be needed. Parents always have a question: is this treatable? Unfortunately, for now effective methods no treatment has been developed, although research is being conducted in this area.

Today, only nonspecific treatment is used - the use of iron, zinc, copper and vitamin B complexes; special preparations of furocoumarins (psoralen, puvalen or meladinin) can be used. They are used both internally in the form of preparations and externally, lubricating the areas of depigmentation with alcohol solutions, then ultraviolet irradiation of the lubricated areas is carried out with special lamps in a special dose. Courses can consist of 20 or more procedures. There is evidence of the effectiveness of using hormonal ointments in small doses, either orally, or as injections into the affected area for 5-10 procedures. Usually, the best effect can be achieved with treatment in the early stages or with small lesions, but the use of decorative treatments is generally recommended. cosmetic dyes that camouflage the skin. When vitiligo develops in childhood, doctors sometimes completely refuse treatment, since with age there is a tendency for the disease to spontaneously regress.

Allergic pigmentation - mastocytosis, is a special form of the disease, which is manifested by the paroxysmal appearance of pigment spots, which, when irritated, turn into blisters and itchy areas of the skin. Usually occurs after two years on the body, head, face and hair growth area. As the spots disappear, dark pigmentation, even brown, remains in their place. Usually after seven years the disease gradually decreases and may completely disappear by adulthood.