Diagnosis of some common and uncommon hyperpigmentation disorders in children

Skin color is an important social and cultural characteristic, which explains why the parents of children with any deviations from normal pigmentation are concerned about this problem. This article discusses selected pigment anomalies present at birth or appearing in the first months of life. They may be transient or permanent, localized (as in café-au-lait spots) or segmental, or more rarely, complex or generalized. As with most pigmentary diseases, a physical examination, including Wood's lamp examination and a detailed history, is usually sufficient for diagnosis. Time of onset, distribution pattern, and associated clinical and sometimes histopathologic or molecular findings are helpful in differentiating these disorders.