hypermelanosis

my 4yr old grandaughter has linear whorled nevoid hyper melanosis. Can you explain what this is in laymans terms and also what will happen when she grows older. Is there any form of cure? Thank you

[sososmommy]

My daughter was diagnosed with Linear and Whorled Hypermelanosis at 5mos. She is now 18mos. It means that the pigmination in her skin produces so much melanin that it becomes darker. During this it migrates into patterns that are in lines (linear) and circles (whorled - think of water whorling down a drain). There is no cure. The doctors have followed her closely. It can affect their eyesight should it produce too much pigmentation in the pupil which can cause blindness. It can cause their legs to grow uneven, seizures, and the biggest thing to watch for is if it raises from the skin. This could lead to cancer. But if it's flush with the skin then it's a good sign. The spots will never go away. They may fade a bit or hit a cap as to how much is produced. So far, my daughter is healthy and has no eyesight problems or seizures. She has been checked several times in the past year by the eye dr, neurologist, bone dr and so on. The important thing is to keep an eye on them and make sure to note any changes in it. I'm still learning about this condition and not many drs are aware of it. She is going back to see her Dr at the Childrens Hospital because she has developed a cyst under the skin on the back of her leg. We are not sure at this point if it has to do with hypermelanosis. I hope this helps.