Wednesday, February 22, 2012

What the HECK is FRECKLE and how to differentiate fromLentigines

These are small pigmented spots on the skin with a clearly-defined edge, surrounded by normal-appearing skin. It is a harmless (benign) hyperplasia of melanocytes which is linear in its spread. is restricted to the cell layer directly above the basement membrane of the epidermis where melanocytes normally reside. 
This is in contrast to the "nests" of multi-layer melanocytes found in moles (melanocytic nevi). Because of this characteristic feature, the adjective "lentiginous" is used to describe other skin lesions that similarly proliferate linearly within the basal cell layer
The picture of lentigines below is from DERM ATLAS





Lentigines VS. Freckles:
Freckles have a relatively normal number of melanocytes but an increased amount of melanin. A lentigo has an increased number of melanocytes. Freckles will intensify and fade with sunlight exposure, whereas lentigines will stay stable in their color regardless of sunlight exposure
The pictures of Freckle below are from Wikipedia

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