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What is an ink spot lentigo?
Ink spot lentigo, also known as reticulated black solar lentigo, is a melanotic macula commonly described in fair-skinned individuals on sun-exposed areas of the body. Clinically it is a darkly pigmented type of solar lentigo; herein the term ink spot lentigo.
Can ink spot lentigo become cancerous?
Symptoms of lentigo simplex The spots don’t cause pain or itchiness and are benign, meaning that they don’t develop into skin cancer. Lentigo simplex spots usually have these characteristics: round or oval shape. 3-15 mm in diameter.
Is lentigo the same as lentigines?
The plural of lentigo is lentigines, although “lentigos” is also in common use.
What is the difference between lentigo maligna and lentigo maligna melanoma?
Lentigo maligna (LM), first described by Hutchinson in 1890, is the noninvasive counterpart to lentigo maligna melanoma (LMM). The latter (LMM) refers to invasive melanoma associated with a LM. LM and LMM occur on chronically sun-damaged skin, most commonly on the head and neck.
How do you get ink stains out of lentigo?
Your dermatologist might recommend one of these treatments:
- medicines like bleaching creams containing hydroquinone or retinoids (tretinoin)
- chemical peels.
- skin resurfacing.
- laser or intense pulse light therapy to destroy melanocytes.
- freezing (cryotherapy) to destroy melanocytes.
What does a solar lentigo look like?
Solar lentigines (len-TIJ-ih-neez) are flat spots of increased pigmentation. They are usually tan, brown or dark brown and darker than freckles. Solar lentigines have oval to round shapes and vary in size. They usually appear on areas most exposed to the sun, such as the scalp, face, hands, arms and upper trunk.
What does solar lentigo look like?
Solar lentigines typically appear on areas exposed to natural or artificial UV light. They appear as well-defined, light brown to black, flat spots. In people who have been treated with a form of UV light therapy called PUVA, solar lentigines may occur in areas of the skin not exposed to UV light.
Does solar lentigo go away?
If left untreated, solar lentigo will most likely persist indefinitely. Cryotherapy and laser surgery can destroy them, but treatment may leave a temporary or permanent white or dark mark. Cysteamine cream hyperpigmentation treatment has been used. Bleaching agents such as hydroquinone are not effective.
Is lentigo a melanoma?
Lentigo maligna is a subtype of melanoma in situ that is characterized by an atypical proliferation of melanocytes within the basal epidermis; lentigo maligna that invades the dermis is termed lentigo maligna melanoma.
Are freckles solar lentigo?
The main difference between a freckle and a solar lentigo is that in a freckle only the amount of pigment being produced by melanocytes is increased, rather than the actual number of cells. Alternative names: Liver spot, old age spot, senile freckle, sun spots (singular: lentigo).
What is a benign solar lentigo?
Solar lentigines may be single or multiple. This type of lentigo is different from a simple lentigo (lentigo simplex) because it is caused by exposure to UV light. Solar lentigines are benign, but they do indicate excessive sun exposure, a risk factor for the development of skin cancer.
What does ink spot lentigo look like?
Ink-spot lentigo Ink-spot lentigines are identified by very dark pigmentation. They appear as irregular black macules often among a number of solar lentigines. Though sometimes clinically alarming, these have a highly characteristic dermatoscopy and histology.
What are solar lentigos or lentigines?
Solar lentigos or lentigines are very common, especially in people over the age of 40 years. Sometimes they are also known as an “old age spot” or “senile freckle”.
What are ink-spot lentigines?
Ink-spot lentigines are identified by very dark pigmentation. They appear as irregular black macules often among a number of solar lentigines. Though sometimes clinically alarming, these have a highly characteristic dermatoscopy and histology. They show regions of marked basal hyperpigmentation which may alternate with achromatic skip areas.
What are the signs and symptoms of solar lentigo?
One variant of solar lentigo, “ink-spot” lentigo, has a jet-black color. Actinic purpura or other signs of solar damage can frequently be found in the skin surrounding solar lentigines. Solar lentigines are benign lesions that can evolve to a pigmented seborrheic keratosis.