Idiopathic Guttate Hypomelanosis: A Mini Review

Idiopathic guttate hypomelanosis is a common, acquired and benign dermatosis characterized by multiple, round or oval, hypopigmented to depigmented macules which mainly appear in upper and lower extremities. The major histopathologic findings are the reduced number of melanocytes in combination with structural (limited melanosomes and dendrites) or functional alterations (decreased tyrosinase activity). Although the underlying pathways are still being elucidated, genetic and environmental factors have been incriminated in its pathogenesis. Although accumulating number of studies supports the central role of sun exposure, a definite causal relationship cannot still be established. Despite the lack of symptoms idiopathic guttate hypomelanosis is a main aesthetic problem. Intense research has oriented towards the development of treatment modalities ranging from topical agents to invasive procedures. Until now the results are encouraging but they still need to be verified by future clinical and epidemiological studies.