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Common skin conditions
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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.
Vitiligo (!)
Describe the condition
The patient in case 6 is distressed by the islands of pigmentation on her face. However, she actually suffers from vitiligo and it is the white areas that are abnormal! In vitiligo, melanocytes are damaged then disappear. Surrounding skin may appear darker than normal, either because of the contrast with the white skin or because of reactive hyperpigmentation.