title: A primer on pigmentation.
abstract: There is at least a temporary loss of skin pigmentation with all but first-degree burns. Commonly, pigment changes persist for months, and sometimes, permanent changes in skin color add to the ultimate change in appearance that commonly affects burn patients. There are many different treatment modalities for the treatment of pigment changes, but most of them have little scientific basis and often lead to disappointing results. The purpose of this review is to discuss the molecular and cellular mechanisms of skin pigmentation, mechanisms of repigmentation after burns, treatment options for dealing with pigmentation changes, and advice for dealing with the sun after burn injury.
authors.affiliation: From the Shriners Hospitals for Children Northern California, Sacramento; Firefighters Regional Burn Center at University of California, Davis; and Department of Surgery, University of California, Davis.
authors.forename: David G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Greenhalgh
mesh_terms: D002056:Burns / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D017495:Hyperpigmentation / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D017496:Hypopigmentation / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology; D012880:Skin Pigmentation; D016038:Skin Transplantation; D014945:Wound Healing