Alentigo (/lɛnˈtaɪɡoʊ/; plurallentigines,/lɛnˈtɪdʒɪniːz/) is a small pigmented spot on the skin with a clearly defined edge, surrounded by normal-appearing skin. It is a harmless (benign)hyperplasia ofmelanocytes which is linear in its spread. This means the hyperplasia of melanocytes is restricted to the cell layer directly above thebasement membrane of theepidermis where melanocytes normally reside. This is in contrast to the "nests" of multi-layer melanocytes found inmoles (melanocyticnevi). Because of this characteristic feature, the adjectivelentiginous is used to describe other skin lesions that similarly proliferate linearly within the basal cell layer.[1][2]
Lentigines are distinguished fromfreckles (ephelis) based on the proliferation of melanocytes. Freckles have a relatively normal number of melanocytes but an increasedamount ofmelanin. A lentigo has an increasednumber of melanocytes. Freckles will increase in number and darkness with sunlight exposure, whereas lentigines will stay stable in their color regardless of sunlight exposure.[2]
Lentigines by themselves are benign,[4] however one might desire the removal or treatment of some of them for cosmetic purposes. In this case they can be removed surgically,[4][5] or lightened with the use of topical depigmentation agents. Some common depigmentation agents such as azelaic acid and kojic acid seem to be inefficient in this case,[6] however other agents might work well (4% hydroquinone,[7] 5% topical cysteamine,[8] 10% topical ascorbic acid[9]).
^Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary. Random House, Inc. 2001. p. 1101.ISBN0-375-72026-X.
^abRobbins and Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease Elsevier. 2005. p. 1232.ISBN0-8089-2302-1.
^William D. James; Timothy G. Berger; et al. (2006).Andrews' Diseases of the Skin: Clinical Dermatology. Saunders Elsevier. pp. 686–87.ISBN0-7216-2921-0.
^Hermanns, J. F.; Petit, L.; Piérard-Franchimont, C.; Paquet, P.; Piérard, G. E. (2002-01-01). "Assessment of topical hypopigmenting agents on solar lentigines of Asian women".Dermatology.204 (4):281–86.doi:10.1159/000063359.ISSN1018-8665.PMID12077522.
^Cook-Bolden, Fran E.; Hamilton, Saonjie F. (2008-04-01). "An open-label study of the efficacy and tolerability of microencapsulated hydroquinone 4% and retinol 0.15% with antioxidants for the treatment of hyperpigmentation".Cutis.81 (4):365–71.ISSN0011-4162.PMID18491487.
^Mansouri, P.; Farshi, S.; Hashemi, Z.; Kasraee, B. (2015-07-01). "Evaluation of the efficacy of cysteamine 5% cream in the treatment of epidermal melasma: a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial".The British Journal of Dermatology.173 (1):209–17.doi:10.1111/bjd.13424.ISSN1365-2133.PMID25251767.
^Khemis, Abdallah; Cabou, Jérôme; Dubois, Jacques; Ortonne, Jean-Paul (2011-12-01). "A randomized controlled study to evaluate the depigmenting activity of L-ascorbic acid plus phytic acid-serum vs. placebo on solar lentigines".Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology.10 (4):266–72.doi:10.1111/j.1473-2165.2011.00588.x.ISSN1473-2165.PMID22151934.
