Poikiloderma

Poikiloderma
Synonyms
Pronounce	N/A
Specialty	N/A
Symptoms	Skin atrophy, telangiectasia, hyperpigmentation, hypopigmentation
Complications
Onset
Duration
Types	N/A
Causes	Genetic disorders, environmental factors
Risks
Diagnosis	Clinical examination, biopsy
Differential diagnosis	Lupus erythematosus, scleroderma
Prevention	N/A
Treatment	Sun protection, topical treatments
Medication
Prognosis
Frequency
Deaths	N/A

Poikiloderma is a condition characterized by changes in the skin, including atrophy, telangiectasia, and variations in pigmentation such as hyperpigmentation and hypopigmentation. It is often a result of genetic disorders or environmental factors.

Signs and Symptoms

Poikiloderma presents with a combination of skin changes:

• Skin atrophy - thinning of the skin
• Telangiectasia - visible small blood vessels
• Hyperpigmentation - darkening of the skin
• Hypopigmentation - lightening of the skin

Causes

The causes of poikiloderma can be varied and include:

• Genetic disorders such as Rothmund-Thomson syndrome, Bloom syndrome, and Dyskeratosis congenita.
• Environmental factors like chronic sun exposure, which can lead to actinic damage.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis of poikiloderma is primarily clinical, based on the appearance of the skin. A biopsy may be performed to rule out other conditions and confirm the diagnosis.

Differential Diagnosis

Conditions that may present similarly to poikiloderma include:

• Lupus erythematosus
• Scleroderma
• Dermatomyositis

Treatment

Management of poikiloderma focuses on:

• Sun protection to prevent further damage
• Topical treatments such as retinoids or steroids to improve skin appearance

See Also

• Dermatology
• Genetic disorders
• Skin pigmentation

References

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External Links

• [Poikiloderma at DermNet NZ](https://dermnetnz.org/topics/poikiloderma/)

• 
  Rothmund-Thomson syndrome