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Drugs & Diseases > Dermatology

Drug-Induced Pigmentation
Updated: Mar 08, 2016
Author: David F Butler, MD; Chief Editor: Dirk M Elston, MD more...

Background
Adverse cutaneous reactions to medications are a common reason for consultations
with dermatologists. Drug-induced skin disorders may manifest in a variety of
ways. Drugs may cause exanthems, urticaria, hypersensitivity syndromes, pustular
eruptions, erythema multiforme, toxic epidermal necrolysis, cutaneous necrosis,
and abnormal pigmentation of the skin and mucosa. Although pigmentary changes
caused by drugs usually result in a limited degree of morbidity, these changes may
be very disturbing to the patient.
The image below depicts a patient with amiodarone pigmentation.

Amiodarone pigmentation.
 View Media Gallery
Drug-induced pigmentary abnormalities may be classified into 3 groups, which are
(1) hyperpigmentation/melanosis, (2) hypopigmentation/leukoderma, and (3)
dyspigmentation or occurrence of unusual skin color.
A related article is Fixed Drug Eruptions. Additionally, the Medscape Adverse
Drug Event Reporting Resource Center may be of interest.
Next: Pathophysiology

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