Lentigo Medication

  • Author: Robert A Schwartz, MD, MPH; Chief Editor: William D James, MD   more...
 
Updated: May 31, 2011
 

Medication Summary

The goal of pharmacotherapy is to reduce morbidity and prevent complications.

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Retinoids

Class Summary

Retinoids decrease the cohesiveness of abnormal hyperproliferative keratinocytes and may reduce the potential for malignant degeneration. These agents modulate keratinocyte differentiation. They have been shown to reduce the risk of skin cancer in patients who have undergone renal transplantation.

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Tretinoin 0.025 to 0.1% (Retin-A, Avita)

 

Keratolytic agent. Acts by increasing epidermal cell mitosis and turnover while suppressing keratin synthesis. Important side effect of interest is hypopigmentation, which reduces the appearance of lentigines.

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Bleaching creams

Class Summary

These agents lighten hyperpigmented skin by inhibiting enzymatic oxidation of tyrosine and by suppressing other melanocyte metabolic processes, thereby further inhibiting melanin production.

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Hydroquinone (Eldopaque-Forte, Solaquin Forte, Lustra)

 

Suppresses melanocyte metabolic processes, especially enzymatic oxidation of tyrosine to 3,4-dihydroxyphenylamine. Exposure to sun reverses effects and causes repigmentation.

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Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

Robert A Schwartz, MD, MPH  Professor and Head, Dermatology, Professor of Pathology, Pediatrics, Medicine, and Preventive Medicine and Community Health, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-New Jersey Medical School

Robert A Schwartz, MD, MPH is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Dermatology, American College of Physicians, and Sigma Xi

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Jason F Okulicz, MD  Assistant Professor of Medicine, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences; Staff, Infectious Disease Service, Brooke Army Medical Center

Jason F Okulicz, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American College of Physicians-American Society of Internal Medicine, and Infectious Diseases Society of America

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Sergiusz Jozwiak, MD  PhD, Head, Professor, Department of Child Neurology, The Children's Memorial Health Institute of Warsaw, Poland

Sergiusz Jozwiak, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Sigma Xi

Disclosure: Novartis Honoraria Speaking and teaching

Specialty Editor Board

Neil Shear, MD  Professor and Chief of Dermatology, Professor of Medicine, Pediatrics and Pharmacology, University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine; Head of Dermatology, Sunnybrook Women's College Health Sciences Center and Women's College Hospital, Canada

Neil Shear, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, American Society for Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Canadian Dermatology Association, Canadian Medical Association, Ontario Medical Association, and Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Michael J Wells, MD  Associate Professor, Department of Dermatology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Paul L Foster School of Medicine

Michael J Wells, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Dermatology, American Medical Association, and Texas Medical Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

John G Albertini, MD  Consulting Staff, Dermatologic Surgery, The Skin Surgery Center; Program Director, ACGME Accredited Fellowship in Procedural Dermatology

John G Albertini, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology and American College of Mohs Micrographic Surgery and Cutaneous Oncology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Glen H Crawford, MD  Assistant Clinical Professor, Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine; Chief, Division of Dermatology, The Pennsylvania Hospital

Glen H Crawford, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Dermatology, American Medical Association, Phi Beta Kappa, and Society of USAF Flight Surgeons

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

William D James, MD  Paul R Gross Professor of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine; Vice-Chair, Program Director, Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania Health System

William D James, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology and Society for Investigative Dermatology

Disclosure: Elsevier Royalty Other

References

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Thirteen-year-old Greek adolescent with xeroderma pigmentosum.
Ephelides (ie, freckles) on the forearm of a 26-year-old redheaded patient.
Woman with solar lentigo.
Close-up view of a woman with solar lentigo.
 
 
 
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