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Brown skin colour is most often due to melanin, a protein produced in the epidermis by melanocytes. Various dermopathies have characteristic patterns of pigmentation.
For each of the twelve cases, study the image(s) and then answer the questions. You can click on the image to view a larger version if required.
Each case should take approximately 2 minutes to complete. There is a list of suggested further reading material at the end of the quiz.
Name this/these brown-coloured skin patch/es.
Lichen planus pigmentosus
Describe the condition
Dermal pigmentation arises when inflammation has disrupted the basal cell layer causing melanin to be released into the papillary dermis, where it is trapped by macrophages (pigment incontinence). Dermal melanosis tends to be a greyish brown, and is characteristic of lichen planus. Lichen planus pigmentosus is a variant of lichen planus in which dark patches appear spontaneously without an obvious inflammatory phase.