Secondary or symptomatic stainings

Secondary or symptomatic stainings are those which follow in the wake of other diseases, or are due to disturbance of organs at a distance from the seat of discoloration that do not, in other words, constitute the essential disease, but are secondary to, or form only a part of, the essential diseases present in any given case. There are three groups of secondary pigmentations:

1. Those which follow in the wake of and occur in the same seat as certain skin eruptions.
   
2. Pigmentations occurring in connection with certain cachexias, the latter being associated with definite organic diseases of important internal organs.
3. Physiological pigmentations connected with uterine functional changes.

As regards congenital pigmentations, I need only say these are seen in moles and pigmentary naevi.


Those cases in which the pigmentation of the skin is at fault as the sole existing disease may be divided into two classes - those in which the pigment is deficient in quantity (Leucoderma, or Vitiligo), and those in which it is in excess (Melanoderma). These may be congenital or acquired, general or local. The seat of change is the rete mucosum.