Clinical study of post-inflammatory hypopigmented macular skin lesions

Hypopigmented lesions of the skin constitute one of the important problems in dermatologic practice. Study was conducted with objective to study different clinical presentations of post-inflammatory hypopigmented macules, age and sex distribution, socioeconomic status, natural course, seasonal incidence, commonest to rarest variant amongst all etiologies and to do a detailed histopathological study of such lesions. 100 patients presenting with post-inflammatory hypopigmented macules were considered and detailed history and general examination was done. Certain specific Lab investigations and histopathological study was done in selected cases. The study showed amongst all varied etiologies of post-inflammatory hypopigmentation, commonly observed in dermatologic practice were Tinea Versicolor, Leprosy, Pityriasis Alba, Mechanical and thermal injuries, Allergic contact dermatitis, Morphoea, Discoid lupus erythematosus, Stevens Johnson syndrome and Psoriasis. Commonest age group affected was in 21-30 years of age. Males (62%) outnumbered females (38%) grossly. People of lower socioeconomic status (57%) presented with post-inflammatory hypopigmentation, commonly. Upper limbs and face and neck region were the commonest sites involved. Commonest etiology amongst all cases was Tinea Versicolor, followed by Leprosy, Pityriasis Alba and thermal burns. The study concludes that post-inflammatory hypopigmentation is a self limiting disease, presenting with varied clinical manifestations, more common in young adults with male preponderance, commonly seen in people of lower socioeconomic group with a family history of similar disease in not more than 30%. Upper limbs and face and neck is the commonest sites of involvement and histopathological diagnosis correlates well with clinical study in most of the cases.