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Many different diseases can cause melanin pigmented lesions in the mouth through Increase in the number of melanocytes or melanocytosis; Increased melanin production with or without melanocytosis; Melanin is an endogenous pigment synthesized by melanocytes that are located in the basal layer of epithelium.
A study in Sweden [2] showed that 21.5% of smokers and 3% of nonsmokers (genetic pigmentation or unknown cause) had lesions that could be classified as an oral melanin pigmentation. A gingival melanin index in 4 degrees was established. [5] Already with a consumption of 1-3 cigarettes a day 9.3% of all 20.333 examined showed a smoker's melanosis.
These cells produce melanin, which are pigments that cause light or dark brown spots in gums and oral mucosa. The most common cause is genetic factors or tobacco smoking, Smoker's melanosis. [2] If the melanin pigmentation is found in a person smoking cigarettes, the most effective way to get rid of the pigmentation is to stop smoking.
Hyperpigmentation of the gum in a 22 year old non smoker female patient. Healthy gums usually have a color that has been described as "coral pink". Other colours like red, white, and blue can signify inflammation or pathology. Smoking or drug use can cause discoloring as well (such as "meth mouth"). Although described as the colour coral pink ...
Melanin produced in the oral mucosa also influences the color, with a darker appearance being created by higher levels of melanin in the tissues (associated with racial/physiologic pigmentation, or with disorders causing melanin overproduction such as Addison's disease). [29]
Melanin (/ ˈ m ɛ l ə n ɪ n / ⓘ; from Ancient Greek μέλας (mélas) ' black, dark ') is a family of biomolecules organized as oligomers or polymers, which among other functions provide the pigments of many organisms. [1] Melanin pigments are produced in a specialized group of cells known as melanocytes.
These cells are surrounded by much larger polygonal cells that have open nuclear chromatin and abundant opaque cytoplasm that has granular melanin pigment. A high power of melanotic neuroectodermal tumor of infancy showing pigmented large epithelioid cells and smaller primitive cells in alveolar nests (hematoxylin and eosin stain).
The ethnic variation may be explained by genetic factors or simply because dark skinned people have greater amount of melanin in the mucosa, making it appear darker (termed racial or physiologic pigmentation). This darker mucosa may make the edematous changes more noticeable, whereas in the mucosa of people with lighter skin types leukoedema ...