title: Colors and contact dermatitis.
abstract: The diagnosis of skin diseases relies on several clinical signs, among which color is of paramount importance. In this review, we consider certain clinical presentations of both eczematous and noneczematous contact dermatitis in which color plays a peculiar role orientating toward the right diagnosis. The conditions that will be discussed include specific clinical-morphologic subtypes of eczematous contact dermatitis, primary melanocytic, and nonmelanocytic contact hyperchromia, black dermographism, contact chemical leukoderma, and others. Based on the physical, chemical, and biologic factors underlying a healthy skin color, the various skin shades drawing a disease picture are thoroughly debated, stressing their etiopathogenic origins and histopathologic aspects.
authors.affiliation: From the Section of Dermatology, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, University of Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Domenico
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bonamonte
authors.forename: Caterina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Foti
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Romita
authors.forename: Michelangelo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vestita
authors.forename: Gianni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Angelini
mesh_terms: D003877:Dermatitis, Contact / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D017495:Hyperpigmentation / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D010859:Pigmentation Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*; D012880:Skin Pigmentation