Hypopigmented pityriasis versicolor developing on a pre-existing Becker's naevus

S Chidambara Murthy

 Department of Skin and Sexually Transmitted Diseases, SN Medical College and HSK Hospital and Research Centre, Bagalkot-587 101. Karnataka, India

Correspondence Address:
S Chidambara Murthy
Department of Skin and Sexually Transmitted Diseases, SN Medical College and HSK Hospital and Research Centre, Bagalkot-587 101. Karnataka
India

To the Editor,

I read with interest the the article "Hypopigmented pityriasis versicolor developing on a pre-existing Becker′s naevus by Bhogal, et al (IJDVL 2002;68:43--44). With regards to that article, I have a few comments to make. The authors have reported an interesting, rare occurrence, which may be a future therapeutic application.

In their report, it is mentioned that the association was first reported by Wright in 1979 and then by Signal, et al in 1998. However present authors have not mentioned previous report[1] published in Indian literature, in which hypopigmented pityriasis versicolor occured over pre-existing Becker′s naevus. They also observed reappearance of pigmentation following treatment of pityriasis versicolor, and suggested therapeutic trial with azelaic acid for Becker′s naevus.

I feel that present authors have either not reviewed previous Indian literature or have overloooked. Quoting references from Indian Journals would be encouraging to the young authors, to write articles. Similar opinions have been expressed earlier also.[2] It would remind me of a famous quote "some read only the references, looking for their name. Cite them.[3]

Azelaic acid′ is a dicarboxylic acid derived from Pityrosporum yeasts, used in melasma, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation,[4] acne vulgaris, lentigo maligna and malignant melanoma′also. The mechanism of hypopigmentation in pityriasis versicolor is due to azelaic acid principally.[1] Hence a long term therapeutic trial with azeloic acid is worth considering for Becker′s naevus. If found effective, it would be a cheaper and safer alternative to laser therapy.

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