Hypopigmented macule

What it means

A white or lighter patch of skin that may appear anywhere on the body and are caused by decreased skin pigmentation.

A reduction in skin pigmentation can be the result of factors such as decreased melanin content or anomalous melanin distribution. In diagnosing pigmentary disorders, Wood's light examination plays an important role, distinguishing hypo- and depigmentation. While a decreased pigment production is reported as hypopigmentation, depigmentation has been defined as loss of pigment. In a similar way, partial lack of melanin is known as hypomelanosis while amelanosis is the total absence of melanin.

Rare diseases that can present with this4

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