J Korean Ophthalmol Soc.  2007 Aug;48(8):1082-1087.

Clinical Course of Bimatoprost-induced Periocular Skin Hyperpigmentation after Stopping Bimatoprost Treatment

• Lee DW

Abstract

PURPOSE: To evaluate the demographic and clinical characteristics of bimatoprost-induced periocular skin hyperpigmentation.
METHODS
The chart analyses of 16 patients in whom cosmetically noticeable periocular skin hyperpigmentation developed after starting bimatoprost therapy were reviewed. Data collated included age, medication history, dates of starting and stopping bimatoprost treatment, and the subjective assessment of the periocular hyperpigmentation at initial detection as well as follow-up visits. Periocular hyperpigmentation was graded using an arbitrary scale from 0 to 3. The number of days to the onset of hyperpigmentation and to pigment resolution was determined and their associations to demographic and other clinical parameters were analyzed.
RESULTS
Patients had variable grades of periocular hyperpigmentation at presentation (mean, 1.53+/-0.66). Bimatoprost-induced periocular hyperpigmentation appeared 1-10 (mean, 4.3+/-2.6) months after initiation of bimatoprost therapy. Resolution of skin hyperpigmentation was noted 2-10(mean 6.8+/-1.9) months after stopping bimatoprost treatment. There was a minor correlation(R=+0.19) between the number of days to resolution of hyperpigmentation and the number of days when bimatoprost was used. At 12 months after stopping bimatoprost treatment, 12 of the 13 patients had complete resolution of periocular hyperpigmentation. However, weak hyperpigmentation remained in one patient.
CONCLUSIONS
Bimatoprost-induced hyperpigmentation is benign and reversible.

Keyword

Bimatoprost; Hyperpigmentation

MeSH Terms

Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Hyperpigmentation*
Skin*
Bimatoprost

Figure

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  Figure 1. Photographs of a patient with periocular skin pigmentation. (A) Grade 1 pigmentation with periocular skin pigmentation mainly in the lower eyelids. (B) Grade 2 pigmentation located in both the upper and lower eyelids. (C) Grade 3 pigmentation with marked periocular skin pigmentation and erythema involving both the upper and lower eyelids.

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  Figure 2. Resolution of periocular hyperpigmentation (A) 7 months after discontinuation of bimatoprost. (B) Improved grade 3 pigmentation and erythema at 6 months after discontinuation.

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  Figure 3. Scattergram of 12 patients completely resolved pigmentation showing the relationship between the number of months to resolution of hyperpigmentation and the number of months of bimatoprost treatment (R=+0.19, a=0.05). The best-fit line portrays the weakly positive correlation.

Reference

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