# Lentigo > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Lentigo > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Lentigo.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lentigo > Source revision: 1323183912 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|Small pigment spots on skin}} {{for|the conch genus|Lentigo (gastropod)}} {{Infobox medical condition (new) | name = Lentigo | synonyms = | image = Female skin large.jpg | caption = A mild form of ''lentigo simplex'' | pronounce = | field = | symptoms = | complications = | onset = | duration = | types = | causes = | risks = | diagnosis = | differential = | prevention = | treatment = | medication = | prognosis = | frequency = | deaths = }} A '''lentigo''' ({{IPAc-en|l|ɛ|n|ˈ|t|aɪ|g|oʊ}}; plural '''lentigines''', {{IPAc-en|l|ɛ|n|ˈ|t|ɪ|dʒ|ᵻ|n|iː|z}}) is a small pigmented spot on the skin with a clearly defined edge, surrounded by normal-appearing skin. It is a harmless (benign) [hyperplasia](/source/hyperplasia) of [melanocytes](/source/melanocytes) which is linear in its spread. This means the hyperplasia of melanocytes is restricted to the cell layer directly above the [basement membrane](/source/basement_membrane) of the [epidermis](/source/epidermis_(skin)) where melanocytes normally reside. This is in contrast to the "nests" of multi-layer melanocytes found in [moles](/source/Melanocytic_nevus) (melanocytic [nevi](/source/nevi)). Because of this characteristic feature, the adjective ''lentiginous'' is used to describe other skin lesions that similarly proliferate linearly within the basal cell layer.''Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary.'' Random House, Inc. 2001. p. 1101. {{ISBN|0-375-72026-X}}.''Robbins and Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease'' Elsevier. 2005. p. 1232. {{ISBN|0-8089-2302-1}}. ==Diagnosis== Conditions characterized by lentigines include:{{cite book |author1=William D. James |author2=Timothy G. Berger |title=Andrews' Diseases of the Skin: Clinical Dermatology |publisher=Saunders Elsevier |year=2006 |pages=686–87 |isbn=0-7216-2921-0 |display-authors=etal}} * [Lentigo simplex](/source/Lentigo_simplex) * [Solar lentigo](/source/Solar_lentigo) (Liver spots) * [PUVA lentigines](/source/PUVA_lentigines) * [Ink spot lentigo](/source/Ink_spot_lentigo) * [LEOPARD syndrome](/source/LEOPARD_syndrome) * [Mucosal lentigines](/source/Mucosal_lentigines) * [Multiple lentigines syndrome](/source/Multiple_lentigines_syndrome) * [Moynahan syndrome](/source/Moynahan_syndrome) * [Generalized lentiginosis](/source/Generalized_lentiginosis) * [Centrofacial lentiginosis](/source/Centrofacial_lentiginosis) * [Carney complex](/source/Carney_complex) * [Inherited patterned lentiginosis in black persons](/source/Inherited_patterned_lentiginosis_in_black_persons) * [Partial unilateral lentiginosis](/source/Partial_unilateral_lentiginosis) * [Peutz–Jeghers syndrome](/source/Peutz%E2%80%93Jeghers_syndrome) * [Lentigo maligna](/source/Lentigo_maligna) * [Lentigo maligna melanoma](/source/Lentigo_maligna_melanoma) * [Acral lentiginous melanoma](/source/Acral_lentiginous_melanoma) ===Differential diagnosis=== Lentigines are distinguished from [freckles](/source/freckles) (ephelis) based on the proliferation of melanocytes. Freckles have a relatively normal number of melanocytes but an increased ''amount'' of [melanin](/source/melanin). A lentigo has an increased ''number'' of melanocytes. Freckles will increase in number and darkness with sunlight exposure, whereas lentigines will stay stable in their color regardless of sunlight exposure. ==Treatment== Lentigines by themselves are benign,{{Cite web|url=http://www.dermnetnz.org/topics/lentigo-simplex/|title=Lentigo simplex {{!}} DermNet New Zealand|website=www.dermnetnz.org|language=en|access-date=2017-02-12}} however one might desire the removal or treatment of some of them for cosmetic purposes. In this case they can be removed surgically,{{Cite journal|last=Juhász|first=Margit L. W.|last2=Marmur|first2=Ellen S.|date=2015-01-01|title=Reviewing Challenges in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Lentigo Maligna and Lentigo-Maligna Melanoma|journal=Rare Cancers and Therapy|volume=3|pages=133–45|doi=10.1007/s40487-015-0012-9|issn=2195-6014|pmc=4837936|pmid=27182482}} or lightened with the use of topical depigmentation agents. Some common depigmentation agents such as azelaic acid and kojic acid seem to be inefficient in this case,{{Cite journal|last=Hermanns|first=J. F.|last2=Petit|first2=L.|last3=Piérard-Franchimont|first3=C.|last4=Paquet|first4=P.|last5=Piérard|first5=G. E.|date=2002-01-01|title=Assessment of topical hypopigmenting agents on solar lentigines of Asian women|journal=Dermatology|volume=204|issue=4|pages=281–86|doi=10.1159/000063359|issn=1018-8665|pmid=12077522}} however other agents might work well (4% hydroquinone,{{Cite journal|last=Cook-Bolden|first=Fran E.|last2=Hamilton|first2=Saonjie F.|date=2008-04-01|title=An open-label study of the efficacy and tolerability of microencapsulated hydroquinone 4% and retinol 0.15% with antioxidants for the treatment of hyperpigmentation|journal=Cutis|volume=81|issue=4|pages=365–71|issn=0011-4162|pmid=18491487}} 5% topical cysteamine,{{Cite journal|last=Mansouri|first=P.|last2=Farshi|first2=S.|last3=Hashemi|first3=Z.|last4=Kasraee|first4=B.|date=2015-07-01|title=Evaluation of the efficacy of cysteamine 5% cream in the treatment of epidermal melasma: a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial|journal=The British Journal of Dermatology|volume=173|issue=1|pages=209–17|doi=10.1111/bjd.13424|issn=1365-2133|pmid=25251767}} 10% topical ascorbic acid{{Cite journal|last=Khemis|first=Abdallah|last2=Cabou|first2=Jérôme|last3=Dubois|first3=Jacques|last4=Ortonne|first4=Jean-Paul|date=2011-12-01|title=A randomized controlled study to evaluate the depigmenting activity of L-ascorbic acid plus phytic acid-serum vs. placebo on solar lentigines|journal=Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology|volume=10|issue=4|pages=266–72|doi=10.1111/j.1473-2165.2011.00588.x|issn=1473-2165|pmid=22151934}}). == See also == * [Freckle](/source/Freckle) * [List of skin diseases](/source/List_of_skin_diseases) * [Mole](/source/Nevus) * [Skin disease](/source/Skin_disease) * [Skin lesion](/source/Skin_lesion) == References == {{Reflist}} == External links == {{Medical resources | DiseasesDB = 34325 | ICD10 = {{ICD10|L|81|4|l|80}} | ICD9 = {{ICD9|709.09}} | ICDO = | OMIM = | MedlinePlus = | eMedicineSubj = derm | eMedicineTopic = 221 | MeshID = D007911 | SNOMED CT = 398744007 }} {{wiktionary}} {{Clinical and histological nomenclature for skin lesions}} {{Pigmentation disorders}} {{Skin tumors, nevi and melanomas}} Category:Melanocytic nevi and neoplasms Category:Disturbances of human pigmentation --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Lentigo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lentigo) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lentigo?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.