Lentigo

A lentigo (Latin for lens-shaped patch ), sometimes also called nevus lenticularis, describes in dermatology a small, sharply defined spot on the skin due to increased incidence of melanocytes or increased melanin formation. There is a certain subspecies of pigmented, circumscribed, benign malformations of the skin ( pigmented nevi ), colloquially " birthmarks " or " liver spots".

Lentigo simplex

Lentigo simplex ( synonym: Lentigo juvenilis ), the classical " liver spot " often arises in childhood in sun- exposed areas.

Clean macroscopically can be a lentigo simplex hardly distinguishable from a Nevus. Both skin lesions are flat, brown to dark brown, round or oval and usually less than 5 mm in diameter. The difference is only in the histological examination is clear, because there can be found in lentigo simplex no nests of nevus cells as in the junctional, but only increased melanocytes.

From a lentigo simplex can not develop malignant melanoma, in contrast to Nevus.

Solar lentigo

In solar lentigo ( Synonyms: Lentigo senilis, age spots ), there is a proven link between chronic sun exposure and the development of solar Lentigenes, in direct proportion to the duration and intensity of sunlight. Lentigenes solar develop progressive disease in late adulthood and can no longer be reduced by local measures or sunscreen. The most common light skin types are affected.

The solar lentigo is a flat, brown lesion at the level of the skin and has a round, mottled or star-shaped, but always sharply defined outline. It can reach up to 5 cm in diameter. From the coloring ago it is usually patchy and irregular brownish pigmented. It comes to a reactive proliferation of melanocytes and melanin deposition in the basal layer of the epidermis. Lentigenes solar only occur on sun- exposed areas.

The " age spots " themselves are harmless, but they can be confused with early forms of melanoma and other hand, are an expression of skin damage caused by excessive sun exposure ( Dermatoheliose ), which in turn predisposes to the development of actinic keratoses, basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma.

Especially people with light skin type should protect yourself from childhood before sun exposure. Excessive exposure to the sun should be avoided and effective sunscreen should be used. A local overproduction of melanin, which is responsible for the formation of brown spots can be specifically inhibited by the drug Rucinol. However, there are indications that the use of local gels or lotions, although the erythema can prevent solar ( " sunburn " ) but not the sun- induced immunosuppression.

Lentiginosen

As Lentiginosen syndromes are known, associated with a large number of " liver spots ", so many lesions that resemble simplex lentigo strong. The distribution of Lentigenes characteristic of each of the following syndromes. Are mostly affected in particular the lips or genital mucosa.

• LEOPARD syndrome ( Lentiginosis profusa, kardiokutanes syndrome)
• Peutz -Jeghers syndrome ( Lentigopolyposis )
• NAME syndrome
• LAMB syndrome
• Carney complex

Other forms of

• Lentigo maligna is an exception in relation to the other Lentigenes because it is no longer counted as obligatory precancerous lesion of the nevi, but corresponds to a melanoma in situ of the epidermis.
• The lentigo maligna melanoma accounts for about 10 % of melanomas from
• The term lentigo aestiva refers to Ephelides ( " freckles ").