Exogenous ochronosis: the failure of depigmenting creams.

Abstract

Exogenous ochronosis (EO) is an entity that manifests as black-bluish or grayish-brown cutaneous hyperpigmentation, which is a consequence of the deposition of ochronotic pigment with characteristic banana-like morphology between the collagen fibers of the dermis. Both the clinical presentation and histopathology appearance are superimposable with endogenous ochronosis or alcaptonuria, a hereditary disease in which ochronotic pigment deposition occurs at a multisystemic level. The most frequent cause of EO is the use of facial depigmenting creams containing hydroquinone, a common practice among women with high phototypes. We present a woman who developed EO on the face, upper chest, and back after prolonged use of a depigmenting cream containing hydroquinone.

• Authors: Eva María Sánchez-Martínez, María Isabel García-Briz, Lya Magdalena Moneva-Léniz, Héctor Gegúndez-Hernández, Patricia Pose-Lapausa, Almudena Mateu-Puchades
• Journal: Dermatology online journal (Dermatol Online J) Vol. 25 Issue 4 (Apr 15 2019) ISSN: 1087-2108 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 31046915 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Antioxidants
• Hydroquinones
• Skin Lightening Preparations
• hydroquinone

Topics

• Antioxidants (adverse effects)
• Back
• Facial Dermatoses (chemically induced)
• Female
• Humans
• Hydroquinones (adverse effects)
• Hyperpigmentation (chemically induced, pathology)
• Middle Aged
• Ochronosis (chemically induced, pathology)
• Skin Lightening Preparations (adverse effects)
• Thorax