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Depigmentation of the skin
For the past year and half I have been noticing a depigmentation of the skin. Is there any test that can be done at the doctors office to see if my melanocytes are still producing?
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Hi.
You have a good point there, however, in most cases, a biopsy is definitive. Your physician usually chooses areas wherein normal skin and abnormal skin overlap eg borders of skin discolorations. You may ask your physician to send your histopath specimen to other laboratories for a second opinion if in doubt.
You have a good point there, however, in most cases, a biopsy is definitive. Your physician usually chooses areas wherein normal skin and abnormal skin overlap eg borders of skin discolorations. You may ask your physician to send your histopath specimen to other laboratories for a second opinion if in doubt.
So in almost most cases does a skin bioposy usually reveal the diagnostic. Are there some cases where it could be misleading because a skin bioposy is a small sample of the entire picture?
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Hi.
Yes. A skin biopsy would be definitive. There are specialty stainings which may be done to give the desired results and to answer specific questions. In dermatologic conditions which may appear as diagnostic dilemmas, a biopsy is the diagnostic of choice . Loss of melanocytes may be visualized here. A dermatopathologist is the physician you may want to talk to regarding this.
Yes. A skin biopsy would be definitive. There are specialty stainings which may be done to give the desired results and to answer specific questions. In dermatologic conditions which may appear as diagnostic dilemmas, a biopsy is the diagnostic of choice . Loss of melanocytes may be visualized here. A dermatopathologist is the physician you may want to talk to regarding this.
Yes I do but it looks like a rash that is hypopigmented. What parts of the body are you referring to. I had two bioposies done, but the results revealed that it was pityriasis lichenoides chronica. But me and my dermatolgists are in the mist of getting another biospy. Thanks!!!
P.S. So would a biospy be able to determine if melanocytes are still producing. If not what exam would be able to determine.
P.S. So would a biospy be able to determine if melanocytes are still producing. If not what exam would be able to determine.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Hi.
You may ask your dermatologist about a Wood's lamp examination. This examination may be able to differentiate skin conditions based on color of the skin upon exposure to the Wood's Lamp. This may be used especially in fair skinned individuals wherein decreased pigmentation may be difficult to visualize. For true loss of melanocytes, the condition is termed as vitiligo. Vitiligo may be diagnosed based on physical examination. In some cases, a biopsy may be done to ascertain the diagnosis.
Do you have any hypopigmented (decreased pigmentation ) areas in your body?
You may ask your dermatologist about a Wood's lamp examination. This examination may be able to differentiate skin conditions based on color of the skin upon exposure to the Wood's Lamp. This may be used especially in fair skinned individuals wherein decreased pigmentation may be difficult to visualize. For true loss of melanocytes, the condition is termed as vitiligo. Vitiligo may be diagnosed based on physical examination. In some cases, a biopsy may be done to ascertain the diagnosis.
Do you have any hypopigmented (decreased pigmentation ) areas in your body?
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