RESEARCH ARTICLE


Assessment of the Degree of Skin Hypopigmentation in Patients with Vitiligo by using Mexametry



N.V. Deeva*, Yu.M. Krinitsyna, S.V. Mustafina, O.D. Rymar, I.G. Sergeeva
Novosibirsk State University, Institute of Molecular Pathology and Pathomorphology, Research Institute of Internal and Preventive Medicine – Branch of the Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Novosibirsk, Russia


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Creative Commons License
© 2017 Deeva et al.

open-access license: This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Public License (CC-BY 4.0), a copy of which is available at: (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode). This license permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

* Address correspondence to this author at the Novosibirsk State University, 2 Pirogova Str., Novosibirsk, Russia, 630090; Tel: +7 913 479 06 01; E-mail: pikelgaupt1991@gmail.com


Abstract

This study is an assessment of the degree of skin hypopigmentation in patients with vitiligo.

Material and Methods:

The study followed 47 patients with vitiligo (33 female and 14 male patients; the average age was 38.0 ± 18.0 years). The mean disease duration was 15.5 ± 14.1 years. We determined the melanin levels in the patches of vitiligo and on the healthy skin of the face, trunk, and extremities by using mexametry.

Results:

High melanin levels were found in patches on and around the mouth. Melanin levels did not differ in vitiligo patches and on healthy skin of chins and buttocks. All patients had no melanin in the patches on their cheeks. Having vitiligo for a long time reduces melanin levels in the skin of the forehead. High melanin levels in healthy skin are associated with stored melanin in vitiligo patches in axillary areas, on the back, brachiums, and femurs.

Conclusions:

There are significant differences in the melanin levels in the vitiligo patches and healthy skin, which have specific features depending on the localization. Analysis of melanin levels may be useful in choosing a method and evaluating the effectiveness of the planned therapy.

Keywords: Vitiligo, Melanin, Mexametry, Melanin levels, Hypopigmentation, Skin.