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Review
. 2015 Nov-Dec;60(6):537-43.
doi: 10.4103/0019-5154.169122.

Exogenous Ochronosis

Prachi A Bhattar  1 , Vijay P Zawar  2 , Kiran V Godse  1 , Sharmila P Patil  1 , Nitin J Nadkarni  1 , Manjyot M Gautam  1
Affiliations
Review

Exogenous Ochronosis

Prachi A Bhattar et al. Indian J Dermatol. 2015 Nov-Dec.

Abstract

Exogenous ochronosis (EO) is a cutaneous disorder characterized by blue-black pigmentation resulting as a complication of long-term application of skin-lightening creams containing hydroquinone but may also occur due to topical contact with phenol or resorcinol in dark-skinned individuals. It can also occur following the use of systemic antimalarials such as quinine. EO is clinically and histologically similar to its endogenous counterpart viz., alkaptonuria, which, however, exhibits systemic effects and is an inherited disorder. Dermoscopy and in vivo skin reflectance confocal microscopy are noninvasive in vivo diagnostic tools. It is very difficult to treat EO, a cosmetically disfiguring and troubling disorder with disappointing treatment options.

Keywords: Exogenous ochronosis; hydroquinone; melasma.

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Figures

Flow diagram 1
Flow diagram 1
Speculated pathogenesis of EO
Figure 1
Figure 1
Lesion on face showing brownish-black macules
Figure 2
Figure 2
Exogenous ochronosis overlying melasma
Figure 3
Figure 3
Lesion showing caviar-like papules and reticulate pigmentation
Figure 4
Figure 4
Lesion showing colloid milium
Figure 5
Figure 5
H and E stain (×40) showing banana-shaped structure
Figure 6
Figure 6
H and E stain showing banana-shaped structure
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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