Abstract | BACKGROUND: There are two chemically distinct types of melanin: the red-yellow phaeomelanin and the brown-black eumelanin. Both types of melanin have been detected in human hair, epidermis and cultured melanocytes. OBJECTIVES: METHODS: We enrolled five patients with vitiligo for this study. We took biopsies from depigmented as well as repigmented lesions after PUVA therapy. The eumelanin and phaeomelanin contents of the skin biopsies were quantified by high-performance liquid chromatography. RESULTS: CONCLUSIONS: Depigmented lesions showed both types of melanin, and contained a substantial amount of phaeomelanin, whereas repigmented lesions after PUVA showed predominantly eumelanin. We detected melanin in depigmented lesions of vitiligo of 5 years duration, suggesting that some residual melanocytes are still active in depigmented lesions.
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Authors | D Parsad, K Wakamatsu, A J Kanwar, B Kumar, S Ito |
Journal | The British journal of dermatology
(Br J Dermatol)
Vol. 149
Issue 3
Pg. 624-6
(Sep 2003)
ISSN: 0007-0963 [Print] England |
PMID | 14510999
(Publication Type: Journal Article)
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Chemical References |
- Melanins
- phaeomelanin
- eumelanin
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Topics |
- Adult
- Child
- Female
- Humans
- Male
- Melanins
(analysis)
- Middle Aged
- PUVA Therapy
- Skin
(chemistry)
- Skin Pigmentation
- Vitiligo
(drug therapy, metabolism)
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