Clinical and dermoscopic characteristics of facial hyperpigmentation disorders in skin of color

Facial hyperpigmentation disorders (FHD) are common in dermatology, particularly in people with skin of color (SOC). They include melasma, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, and less frequent conditions such as exogenous ochronosis, lichen planus pigmentosus, Riehl’s melanosis, acanthosis nigricans, seborrheic melanosis, pigmentary demarcation lines, drug-induced pigmentation, and nevus of Ota, among others. These conditions may significantly affect quality of life. They can present similar clinical and dermoscopic features, making diagnosis challenging. A thorough medical history, physical examination, and careful dermoscopic evaluation are essential to achieve an accurate diagnosis. In this article, we present a narrative review of the clinical and dermoscopic characteristics of FHD in SOC and provide diagnostic clues for the early diagnosis of these conditions.