A lentigo () (plural lentigines, ) is a small pigmented spot on the skin with a clearly defined edge, surrounded by normal-appearing skin. It is a harmless (benign) hyperplasia of melanocytes which is linear in its spread. This means the hyperplasia of melanocytes is restricted to the cell layer directly above the basement membrane of the epidermis where melanocytes normally reside. This is in contrast to the "nests" of multi-layer melanocytes found in

moles Moles can refer to: * Moles de Xert, a mountain range in the Baix Maestrat comarca, Valencian Community, Spain * The Moles (Australian band) *The Moles, alter ego of Scottish band Simon Dupree and the Big Sound People *Abraham Moles, French engin ...

(melanocytic nevi). Because of this characteristic feature, the adjective "lentiginous" is used to describe other skin lesions that similarly proliferate linearly within the basal cell layer.''Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary.'' Random House, Inc. 2001. p. 1101. .''Robbins and Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease'' Elsevier. 2005. p. 1232. .

Diagnosis

Conditions characterized by lentigines include: * Lentigo simplex *

Solar lentigo Solar may refer to: Astronomy * Of or relating to the Sun ** Solar telescope, a special purpose telescope used to observe the Sun ** A device that utilizes solar energy (e.g. "solar panels") ** Solar calendar, a calendar whose dates indicat ...

(Liver spots) *

PUVA lentigines PUVA lentigines is a cutaneous condition caused by PUVA therapy PUVA (psoralen and UVA) is an ultraviolet light therapy treatment for skin diseases: eczema, psoriasis, graft-versus-host disease, vitiligo, mycosis fungoides, large plaque parap ...

* Ink spot lentigo *

LEOPARD syndrome Noonan syndrome with multiple lentigines (NSML) which is part of a group called Ras/MAPK pathway syndromes, is a rare autosomal dominant, multisystem disease caused by a mutation in the protein tyrosine phosphatase, non-receptor type 11 gene (''PT ...

* Mucosal lentigines * Multiple lentigines syndrome *

Moynahan syndrome Moynahan is a family name with Irish origin and may refer to: ;People * Bernard Thomas Moynahan Jr. (1918–1999), an American federal judge *Brian Moynahan, an English writer *Bridget Moynahan, an American model and actress *Julian Moynahan (1925 ...

* Generalized lentiginosis * Centrofacial lentiginosis *

Carney complex Carney complex and its subsets LAMB syndrome and NAME syndrome are autosomal dominant conditions comprising myxomas of the heart and skin, hyperpigmentation of the skin (lentiginosis), and endocrine overactivity. It is distinct from Carney's tr ...

* Inherited patterned lentiginosis in black persons *

Partial unilateral lentiginosis Partial unilateral lentiginosis is a cutaneous condition characterized by lentigines located on only one half of the body. See also * Lentigo * List of cutaneous conditions Many skin conditions affect the human integumentary system—th ...

Peutz–Jeghers syndrome Peutz–Jeghers syndrome (often abbreviated PJS) is an autosomal dominant genetic disorder characterized by the development of benign hamartomatous polyps in the gastrointestinal tract and hyperpigmented macules on the lips and oral mucosa ( mela ...

Lentigo maligna Lentigo maligna is where melanocyte cells have become malignant and grow continuously along the stratum basale of the skin, but have not invaded below the epidermis. Lentigo maligna is not the same as lentigo maligna melanoma, as detailed below. ...

Lentigo maligna melanoma Lentigo maligna melanoma is a melanoma that has evolved from a lentigo maligna, as seen as a lentigo maligna with melanoma cells invading below the boundaries of the epidermis. Last Update: May 18, 2019. They are usually found on chronically sun d ...

* Acral lentiginous melanoma

Differential diagnosis

Lentigines are distinguished from freckles (ephelis) based on the proliferation of melanocytes. Freckles have a relatively normal number of melanocytes but an increased ''amount'' of

melanin Melanin (; from el, μέλας, melas, black, dark) is a broad term for a group of natural pigments found in most organisms. Eumelanin is produced through a multistage chemical process known as melanogenesis, where the oxidation of the amino ...

. A lentigo has an increased ''number'' of melanocytes. Freckles will increase in number and darkness with sunlight exposure, whereas lentigines will stay stable in their color regardless of sunlight exposure.

Treatment

Lentigines by themselves are benign, however one might desire the removal or treatment of some of them for cosmetic purposes. In this case they can be removed surgically, 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, however other agents might work well (4% hydroquinone, 5% topical cysteamine, 10% topical ascorbic acid).

References

External links

{{Skin tumors, nevi and melanomas Melanocytic nevi and neoplasms Disturbances of human pigmentation