Black people, Asians, and dark-skinned Caucasians frequently show diffuse melanosis of the facial gingiva.In addition, the lingual gingiva and tongue may exhibit multiple, diffuse, and
reticulated brown macules. Although other causes of hyperpigmentation are possible, racial pigmentation, representing basilar melanosis, evolves in childhood and usually does not arise de novo in the adult. Therefore, any multifocal or diffuse pigmentation of recent onset should be investigated further to rule out endocrinopathic disease.