Ultrastructural Study of Keratinocytes and Melanocytes: in Vitiligo, Progressive Macular Hypomelanosis and Idiopathic Guttate Hypomelanosis

Changes in pigmentation can arise in a number of ways and can be due to a variety of genetic and environmental factors. Most studies on disorders of pigmentation have focused on the abnormality of melanocytes rather than keratinocytes. However, it is important to remember that epidermal melanocytes form a functional and structural unit with neighbouring keratinocytes. This book focuses on electron microscopic examination and the ultrastructural findings of melanocytes and keratinocytes of lesional and apparently normal perilesional skin in three disorders of pigmentation: vitiligo, progressive macular hypomelanosis and idiopathic guttate hypomelanosis. This should be especially useful to Dermatologists and to Histopathologists to reinforce their knowledge for better understanding of ultrastructural findings of pigmentary disorders.