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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.
Postinflammatory pigmentation (epidermal type) following irritant hand dermatitis.
Describe the condition
There are various characteristic presentations of postinflammatory pigmentation, which tends to be more common and prominent in darker skin types.
An epidermal inflammatory response, e.g., dermatitis, as in this case, stimulates the melanocytes to produce more melanin, which is transferred to surrounding keratinocytes and gives affected skin a light brown hue.