generalised hypermelanosis
Last reviewed 08/2021
Causes of diffuse hyperpigmentation include:
- congenital:
- familial or racial
- irradiation, especially UV light
- endocrine:
- chronic primary hypoadrenalism
- Cushing's syndrome with high ACTH - not adrenal adenoma
- acromegaly
- oestrogens, pregnancy
- systemic disease:
- chronic renal failure
- cachexia e.g. TB or malignancy
- primary biliary cirrhosis
- haemochromatosis
- malabsorption - e.g. Whipples disease, coeliac disease
- drug-induced:
- cytotoxic drugs - busulphan, bleomycin and cyclophosphamide may cause generalized brown pigmentation
- phenothiazines e.g. chlorpromazine - bluish pigmentation on light exposed skin
- arsenic