Dyschromia; Mottling

Normal skin color may return on its own in some cases.

You may use lotions that bleach or lighten the skin, such as hydroquinone, to reduce hyperpigmented skin or to even the skin tone where hypopigmented areas are large or very noticeable.

Selsun blue or tolnaftate (Tinactin) lotion can help treat tinea versicolor. Apply as directed to the affected area daily until the lesions disappear. Unfortunately, tinea versicolor often returns no matter what type of treatment is used.

You may use cosmetics or skin dyes to disguise skin color changes. Makeup can help hide mottled skin, but will not cure the problem.

Avoid excessive sun exposure and use sunblock. Hypopigmented skin sunburns easily, and hyperpigmented skin may get even darker. In darker-skinned people, skin damage may cause permanent hyperpigmentation.

Contact your doctor if you have any persistent skin coloring changes without a known cause.

Also call if you you notice a new mole or other growth, or if an existing one has changed color, size, or appearance.

The doctor will carefully examine the skin and ask questions about your medical history and symptoms, such as:

• When did the skin coloring change develop?
• Did it develop slowly or suddenly?
• Is it getting worse? How quickly?
• What is your normal skin color?
• Does the skin coloring change appear in more than one location?
• Have you had any injury to the skin (including sunburn or frequent sun tans)?
• Are you pregnant?
• What medications do you take?
• What medical treatments have you had?
• What other symptoms do you have?

Tests that may be done include:

• Scrapings of skin lesions
• Skin biopsy
• Wood's lamp (ultraviolet light) examination of the skin

Images

Cutis marmorata on the leg

Vitiligo on the face

Vitiligo, drug induced

Acanthosis nigricans on the hand

Neurofibromatosis, giant cafe-au-lait spot

Halo nevus

Acanthosis nigricans - close-up

Review Date: 08/12/2009
Reviewed By: Michael Lehrer, M.D., Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)