Clinical and Dermoscopic Evaluation of Patients With Disorders of Hypopigmentation and Depigmentation
- 1Dermatology, Maharishi Markandeshwar Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, MMDU Mullana, Ambala, IND
Abstract
Background
Hypopigmentary and depigmentary disorders frequently present with overlapping clinical features, often making diagnosis challenging. Dermoscopy serves as a valuable non-invasive tool that provides additional morphological information by revealing subsurface morphological patterns.Objectives
The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical and dermoscopic features of various hypopigmentary and depigmentary disorders encountered in routine clinical practice.Material and methods
A hospital-based observational cross-sectional study was conducted in 200 patients (aged 6-70 years, both genders) presenting with hypopigmentary and depigmentary disorders in a tertiary care dermatology outpatient department. All patients underwent detailed clinical examination, Wood's lamp examination, 10% potassium hydroxide (KOH) examination where indicated, and dermoscopic evaluation. Histopathological examination was performed in doubtful cases.Results
Among 200 patients, the majority belonged to the 11-20-year age group (33.5%). Vitiligo (36.5%), pityriasis versicolor (35.0%), and pityriasis alba (15.0%) were the most common disorders observed, whereas idiopathic guttate hypomelanosis, nevus depigmentosus, contact leukoderma, and leprosy were observed in a smaller number of patients. On Wood's lamp examination, vitiligo demonstrated bluish-white fluorescence, while pityriasis versicolor showed greenish-yellow to yellow fluorescence. KOH examination was positive in 81.4% of pityriasis versicolor cases with "spaghetti and meatballs" appearance. Vitiligo demonstrated absent pigment network (69.6%) and diffuse white glow (67.1%) on dermoscopy. Idiopathic guttate hypomelanosis showed margin patterns like amoeboid, feathery, and petaloid margins. Pityriasis versicolor showed brownish-white background (94.3%), faint pigment network (80.0%), and scaling accentuated in skin creases (72.9%). Pityriasis alba demonstrated ill-defined margins (93.3%) and a faint pigment network (73.3%). Leprosy lesions revealed yellowish-orange structureless areas (80.0%) with a distorted pigment network (60.0%).Conclusion
Dermoscopy is a valuable adjunctive, non-invasive tool in differentiating clinically similar hypopigmentary and depigmentary disorders. Combined with Wood's lamp examination and KOH microscopy, it significantly improves diagnostic precision and may reduce the need for invasive investigations.
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BibTeX
@article{goel2026clinical,
title = {{Clinical and Dermoscopic Evaluation of Patients With Disorders of Hypopigmentation and Depigmentation}},
author = {Aayush Goel and Aneet Mahendra and Sanjeev Gupta and Hritik V Shah and Nitish Goyal},
journal = {Cureus},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.7759/cureus.117133},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13719004},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Clinical and Dermoscopic Evaluation of Patients With Disorders of Hypopigmentation and Depigmentation
AU - Aayush Goel
AU - Aneet Mahendra
AU - Sanjeev Gupta
AU - Hritik V Shah
AU - Nitish Goyal
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/29
JO - Cureus
DO - 10.7759/cureus.117133
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13719004
AB - Background Hypopigmentary and depigmentary disorders frequently present with overlapping clinical features, often making diagnosis challenging. Dermoscopy serves as a valuable non-invasive tool that provides additional morphological information by revealing subsurface morphological patterns.Objectives The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical and dermoscopic features of various hypopigmentary and depigmentary disorders encountered in routine clinical practice.Material and methods A hospital-based observational cross-sectional study was conducted in 200 patients (aged 6-70 years, both genders) presenting with hypopigmentary and depigmentary disorders in a tertiary care dermatology outpatient department. All patients underwent detailed clinical examination, Wood's lamp examination, 10% potassium hydroxide (KOH) examination where indicated, and dermoscopic evaluation. Histopathological examination was performed in doubtful cases.Results Among 200 patients, the majority belonged to the 11-20-year age group (33.5%). Vitiligo (36.5%), pityriasis versicolor (35.0%), and pityriasis alba (15.0%) were the most common disorders observed, whereas idiopathic guttate hypomelanosis, nevus depigmentosus, contact leukoderma, and leprosy were observed in a smaller number of patients. On Wood's lamp examination, vitiligo demonstrated bluish-white fluorescence, while pityriasis versicolor showed greenish-yellow to yellow fluorescence. KOH examination was positive in 81.4% of pityriasis versicolor cases with "spaghetti and meatballs" appearance. Vitiligo demonstrated absent pigment network (69.6%) and diffuse white glow (67.1%) on dermoscopy. Idiopathic guttate hypomelanosis showed margin patterns like amoeboid, feathery, and petaloid margins. Pityriasis versicolor showed brownish-white background (94.3%), faint pigment network (80.0%), and scaling accentuated in skin creases (72.9%). Pityriasis alba demonstrated ill-defined margins (93.3%) and a faint pigment network (73.3%). Leprosy lesions revealed yellowish-orange structureless areas (80.0%) with a distorted pigment network (60.0%).Conclusion Dermoscopy is a valuable adjunctive, non-invasive tool in differentiating clinically similar hypopigmentary and depigmentary disorders. Combined with Wood's lamp examination and KOH microscopy, it significantly improves diagnostic precision and may reduce the need for invasive investigations.
SN - 2168-8184
ER -