Hypomelanotic macule

What it means

Hypomelanotic macules ("ash leaf spots") are white or lighter patches of skin that may appear anywhere on the body and are caused by a lack of melanin. White ash leaf-shaped macules are considered to be characteristic of tuberous sclerosis.

While hypopigmentation is a general term that refers to any form of decreased or absent skin pigmentation, hypomelanosis more specifically refers to a reduction of epidermal melanin.

Rare diseases that can present with this3

The range is how often this sign appears among people diagnosed with each disease — it is not a probability of having any of them. Many of these signs also occur in common, non-rare conditions. A sign on this page is a conversation to have with a clinician, not a conclusion.

Part of the broader category

Also called: Hypomelanotic macules