Dermatoscopy of blue vitiligo.
Blue vitiligo is a distinct variant of vitiligo characterized by a blue-grey appearance of the skin, which corresponds histologically with absence of epidermal melanocytes and presence of numerous dermal melanophages. A 23-year-old woman of Indian origin with Fitzpatrick skin type V presented with a 1-month history of normoaesthetic depigmented macules over the right forearm, dorsa of the hands and right areola. The macule over the right forearm had a bluish tinge. A clinical diagnosis of vitiligo vulgaris with blue vitiligo was made. Dermatoscopy of the interface between the blue macule and the hypopigmented macule revealed a linear depigmented macule in the centre with multiple blue dots and absence of epidermal melanin on the side of the blue macule, and reticular pigmentation with a few depigmented macules and scattered blue dots over the side of the hypopigmented macule. Blue vitiligo was described previously in a patient seropositive for human immunodeficiency virus, and believed to represent postinflammatory hyperpigmentation in areas bordering the vitiliginous patches as a result of psoralen ultraviolet A treatment. This case is unusual because of its rarity and the description of the associated dermatoscopical findings.
Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprosy, Christian Medical College, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India. laxmishac@gmail.com
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Chandrashekar
D046169:Dermoscopy; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008544:Melanocytes / Q000473:pathology; D012880:Skin Pigmentation; D014820:Vitiligo / Q000473:pathology*; D055815:Young Adult