Abstract
Case 1: A 67-year-old man had received oral minocycline therapy for 4 years and 9 months to treat rheumatoid arthritis and its related conditions. He noticed discoloration of his lower legs and left instep. Histopathological examination of the left lower leg revealed increased melanin granules in the basal layer of the epidermis and the deposition of hemosiderin-like particles in the upper dermis. Case 2: A 31-year-old woman suffering from atopic dermatitis took oral minocycline for acne vulgaris for 10 days. She noticed a change in the color of her lips 5 days after this oral administration. We diagnosed these cases as hyperpigmentation caused by the internal use of minocycline. The discolorations gradually improved by discontinuation of minocycline. The pigmentary change induced by minocycline usually disappears gradually after cessation of use of the drug, but it sometimes takes several years. We should be careful about discoloration of the skin when we administer minocycline to our patients.Skin Research, 11: 532-537, 2012
