Idiopathic eruptive macular pigmentation

Idiopathic eruptive macular pigmentation (IEMP) is a rare condition characterised by the presence of asymptomatic pigmented macules affecting the neck, trunk, and proximal extremities in children and adolescents. Lesions resolve gradually over months to years without any residual changes.

This chapter is set out as follows: 

• The cause is unknown 

• Lesions are asymptomatic
• The youngest and oldest case reported in the literature is that of a one-year-old and a 50-year-old

• IEMP is characterised by asymptomatic, brown macules involving the neck, trunk and proximal extremities
   
• The criteria for diagnosis are as follows:
  • The eruption of brown-black, discrete, nonconfluent, asymptomatic macules involving the neck, trunk and proximal extremities in children and adolescents
  • Absence of any preceding inflammatory lesions
  • No associated drug cause
  • Histological findings of basal layer hyperpigmentation of the epidermis with dermal melanophages without any basal cell damage or lichenoid infiltrate
  • Histological findings of normal mast cell counts

• Treatment is not required as spontaneous resolution of IEMP is expected within several weeks to a few years