Medicaments and oral healthcare. Hyperpigmentation of oral soft tissues due to afamelanotide

The medicament afamelanotide is an analogue of endogenous ?-melanocyte-stimulating hormone. It promotes cutaneous pigmentation, providing protection from sunlight. In dermatology, afamelanotide seems to establish therapeutic results for polymorphic light eruption, solar urticaria, erythropoietic protoporphyria, Hailey-Hailey disease, vitiligo and acne vulgaris. Afamelanotide is available for non-medical use to realise quick and easy skin tanning. Adverse effects of afamelanotide mentioned in the scientific literature are development and aggravation of melanocytic naevi, degeneration of melanocytic naevi to melanomas, melanonychia, systemic toxicity, rhabdomyolysis, posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome, priapism and hyperpigmentation of oral soft tissues. Furthermore, numerous adverse effects of afamelanotide have been reported to the Netherlands pharmacovigilance centre LAREB as well as numerous adverse effects due to overdosage of afamelanotide to the National Poisons Information Centre. Dentists should be alert to hyperpigmentation of oral soft tissues due to afamelanotide.