Editing Hypopigmentation (section)

{{short description|Area of skin becoming lighter than the baseline skin color}}
{{More citations needed|auto=yes|date=December 2009}}
{{Infobox medical condition (new)
| name            = Hypopigmentation
| synonyms        =
| image           = Vitiligo03.jpg
| caption         = Hypopigmentation in vitiligo
| pronounce       =
| field           =
| symptoms        =
| complications   =
| onset           =
| duration        =
| types           =
| causes          =
| risks           =
| diagnosis       =
| differential    =
| prevention      =
| treatment       =
| medication      =
| prognosis       =
| frequency       =
| deaths          =
}}
'''Hypopigmentation''' is characterized specifically as an area of [[Human skin|skin]] becoming lighter than the baseline skin color, but not completely devoid of [[skin pigment|pigment]]. This is not to be confused with [[depigmentation]], which is characterized as the absence of all pigment.<ref name=":1" />  It is caused by [[melanocyte]] or [[melanin]] depletion, or a decrease in the [[amino acid]] [[tyrosine]], which is used by melanocytes to make melanin.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |title=Biochemistry |last=Ferrier |first=Denise R. |isbn=978-1-4963-4449-6 |edition= Seventh |location=Philadelphia |oclc=956263971|year=2017 }}</ref> Some common genetic causes include mutations in the [[tyrosinase]] gene or [[OCA2]] gene.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine|last1=Bolognia|first1=Jean|last2=Braverman|first2=Irwin|publisher=McGraw-Hill|year=2014|location=New York, NY|chapter=Skin Manifestations of Internal Disease}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|chapter-url=http://accessmedicine.mhmedical.com.eres.library.manoa.hawaii.edu/content.aspx?bookid=2355&sectionid=185845621.|title=The Big Picture: Medical Biochemistry Eds|last=Cross|first=Harold|publisher=McGraw-Hill|location=New York, NY|chapter=Biochemical Basis of Diseases}}</ref>  As melanin pigments tend to be in the skin, eye, and hair, these are the commonly affected areas in those with hypopigmentation.<ref name=":0" />

Hypopigmentation is common and approximately one in twenty have at least one hypopigmented macule. Hypopigmentation can be upsetting to some, especially those with darker skin whose hypopigmentation marks are seen more visibly. Most causes of hypopigmentation are not serious and can be easily treated.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Hill|first1=Jeremy P.|last2=Batchelor|first2=Jonathan M.|date=2017-01-12|title=An approach to hypopigmentation|url=https://www.bmj.com/content/356/bmj.i6534|journal=BMJ|language=en|volume=356|pages=i6534|doi=10.1136/bmj.i6534|issn=0959-8138|pmid=28082370|s2cid=26827617|url-access=subscription}}</ref>