Idiopathic guttate hypomelanosis

Abstract
A new entity consisting of multiple, smooth, discrete, macular, off-white, hypopigmented lesions occurring on the upper and lower extremities and scattered areas on the trunk is described. By a random survey, the incidence of this dermatosis was found to be exceedingly high. Histologically, the skin appears normal except for the absence of melanin, and with the B-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-L-alamine (dopa) stain there is decreased to absent dopa oxidase. Through analysis of patient histories, laboratory work, and a review of the literature a hypothesis as to etiology and relationship to other hypopigmenting disorders is discussed.