title: Increasing our understanding of pigmentary disorders.
abstract: This article focuses on developments in pigmentary disorders that extend dermatologists' understanding of the field. Areas that are reviewed include the basic biochemistry, pharmacology, and physiology of the melanocortin system; melanosome development; genetic diseases associated with pigmentary disorders; pigmentary disorders secondary to systemic disease; drug-induced hyperpigmentation; environmental exposure to chemicals; and primary disorders of hyperpigmentation such as melasma and lentigines. Basic, clinical, and epidemiological research, along with a number of clinical case reports, were included in the review. This article also reports on the new health-related quality-of-life instrument (MELASQOL) that has been developed for women with melasma.
authors.affiliation: Vitiligo & Pigmentation Institute of Southern California, Division of Dermatology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Pearl
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Grimes
authors.forename: James J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Nordlund
authors.forename: Amit G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Pandya
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rendon
authors.forename: Jean-Paul
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Ortonne
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017495:Hyperpigmentation / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008543:Melanins; D009074:Melanocyte-Stimulating Hormones; D020460:Melanosomes; D010859:Pigmentation Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000209:etiology* / Q000235:genetics; D044101:Receptors, Melanocortin
chemical_list: D008543:Melanins; D044101:Receptors, Melanocortin; D009074:Melanocyte-Stimulating Hormones