Approach to reticulate hyperpigmentation

Abstract

Reticulate hyperpigmentation is a feature of a number of conditions, which differ in age of onset and distribution of the lesions. Associated clinical findings (e.g. hair, nail, teeth, systemic involvement), are used to differentiate between the conditions. Histopathological examination is useful in some disorders. Diagnosing the disorders is important, because the underlying causes may be treatable, and some of the disorders are associated with malignancies and life-threatening systemic involvement. In this review, I present a concise, systematic approach to the treatment of the patient with reticulate hyperpigmentation. Click for the corresponding questions to this CME article. © The Author(s). CED © 2011 British Association of Dermatologists.