Minocycline-induced hyperpigmentation involving the oral mucosa after short-term minocycline use

Abstract

Minocycline is a semisynthetic broad-spectrum tetracycline used for its bacteriostatic and anti-inflammatory properties in the treatment of moderate to severe acne vulgaris. Minocycline-induced hyperpigmentation (MIH) is a well-recognized phenomenon documented to involve a wide array of anatomic locations including the skin and nails, the sclera and conjunctiva, the oral cavity, and the skeleton and cartilage, as well as within viscera and body fluids. Oral involvement typically includes the hard tissues (eg, alveolar bone, roots, crowns of teeth). We present a case of MIH of the labial, gingival, and lingual oral mucosa after only 2 weeks of treatment. Our case is unique because of the short course of minocycline treatment.