title: Guide for medical professionals (i.e., dermatologists) for the management of Rhododenol-induced leukoderma.
abstract: Because some users develop depigmentation after the use of melanogenesis-inhibiting products containing the quasi-drug ingredient Rhododenol, Japanese Dermatological Association (JDA) established a Special Committee on the Safety of Cosmetics Containing Rhododenol on July 17, 2013 and management guide for dermatologists has been updated on the website in order to delineate the diagnostic criteria for Rhododenol-induced leukoderma and provides a broad guide for standard treatment based on current knowledge. This guide is produced on the basis of the guide (version 7) updated on June 20, 2014 in the website. Rhododenol-induced leukoderma refers to depigmentation of varying severity that develops after the use of cosmetics containing Rhododenol, mainly at the site of use. In most cases, repigmentation of part or all the affected area is evident after discontinuation. Histopathologically cellular infiltration around the hair follicles and melanophages are present in most cases. The number of melanocytes in the lesion is declined but not totally absent in most cases. Rhododenol itself is a good substrate for tyrosinase, resulting in the formation of Rhododenol metabolites (e.g., Rhododenol quinone). Melanocytes are damaged by Rhododenol metabolites during the subsequent metabolic process. The continued use of cosmetics containing Rhododenol thus induces tyrosinase activity-dependent cytotoxicity in melanocytes in the epidermis at application sites, resulting in decreasing the amount of melanin produced by melanocytes; the addition of some other factor to this process is believed to subsequently cause the decrease or disappearance of melanocytes themselves from the epidermis.
authors.affiliation: Division of Dermatology, Department of Internal Related Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe University, Kobe, Japan.
authors.forename: Chikako
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nishigori
authors.forename: Yumi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Aoyama
authors.forename: Akiko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ito
authors.forename: Kayoko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: Tamio
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: Atsushi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tanemura
authors.forename: Masaaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ito
authors.forename: Ichiro
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Katayama
authors.forename: Naoki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Oiso
authors.forename: Yuji
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kagohashi
authors.forename: Shinichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sugiura
authors.forename: Kazuyoshi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fukai
authors.forename: Yoko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Funasaka
authors.forename: Toshiharu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yamashita
authors.forename: Kayoko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Matsunaga
mesh_terms: D000440:Butanols / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003358:Cosmetics / Q000009:adverse effects; D003875:Drug Eruptions / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D017496:Hypopigmentation / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000628:therapy*; D062327:Skin Lightening Preparations / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D000440:Butanols; D003358:Cosmetics; D062327:Skin Lightening Preparations; C115945:rhododendrol
keywords: Rhododenol; cosmetics; leukoderma; skin-lightening agent; ultraviolet light irradiation