Hyperpigmentation associated with hormonal contraceptive use

• Autor(a) principal: Peixoto, R.
• Data de Publicação: 2019
• Outros Autores: Fonseca, A.P.
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: eng
• Título da fonte: Repositório Científico de Acesso Aberto de Portugal (Repositórios Cientìficos)
• Texto Completo: http://hdl.handle.net/10400.26/32346
• topic: Hormonal contraceptives; Hyperpigmentation; Estrogen; Progesterone; Anticoncepcionais hormonais; Hiperpigmentação; Estrogénio; Progesterona

Introduction: Melanocytes are cells which are present in the human skin and they are responsible for the melanin production. They can be found in the basal stratum of the epidermis and they have some prolongations extending until the stratum corneum. Melanin synthesis may increase in the presence of some factors and some irregular brownish spots – hyperpigmentations – may appear. Factors which can trigger melanogenesis are excessive sun exposure, hormonal contraception, hormonal reposition therapy, pregnancy, medicines, cosmetics, stress or genetics. Aim: Understanding of the relationship between hormonal contraceptives and hyperpigmentation. Material and Methods: A bibliographic review through a research in diverse databases (PubMed, Google Scholar, ScienceDirect and Wiley Online Library). Results/Discussion: According to some authors, estrogenic components found in hormonal contraceptives are associated with hyperpigmentation situations. In the case of progestagenic components, opinions diverge: some studies substantiate that progesterone has the ability to increase melanogenesis and others that it may have the opposite effect of estrogen. In a general way, most researchers say that hormonal contraceptives affect melanin synthesis; however others reject that fact. Conclusion: It is verified the relationship between hormonal contraceptives and hyperpigmentation. However, this topic is not sufficiently well approached, so future investigations are needed to allow its best understanding.