Pigmentary traits, nevi and skin phototypes in a youth population of central Italy

Five thousand eight hundred and thirty-seven healthy young men, aged 18-19, from two distinct regions of Central Italy, Abruzzo and Marche, have been investigated during the military medical examination to evaluate pigmentary traits and skin phototypes. They were examined over the entire body except the scalp and ano-genital area for pigmented lesions, which included commo n acquired melanocytic nevi (MN), clinically atypical nevi and solar lentig ines. Eye and hair color were also recorded. Information was gathered by se lf-questionnaire, personal interview and clinical skin examination performe d by two independent dermatologists. For sunlight susceptibility and sun ex posure, each subject was classified from I to IV skin phototype according t o the classification of sun-reactive skin types as proposed by Fitzpatrick. Almost half of the entire population (44.5%) had affirmed that they tanned easily and rarely burned (phototype IV), 10.3% had skin phototype I or II, 11.2% had more than 40 common MN, and 37.2% had atypical nevi with a diame ter greater than or equal to 5 mm. The common MN and atypical nevi count ha d a significant association with skin phototype. Subjects with phototype I or II, and solar lentigo had significantly higher nevus counts than individ uals without these characteristics.