Introduction
Background
Melasma is an acquired hypermelanosis of sun-exposed areas. It presents as symmetric hyperpigmented macules, which can be confluent or punctate. The cheeks, the upper lip, the chin, and the forehead are the most common locations, but it can occasionally occur in other sun-exposed locations. Chloasma is a synonymous term sometimes used to describe the occurrence of melasma during pregnancy. Chloasma is derived from the Greek word chloazein, meaning "to be green." Melas, also Greek, means "black." Since the pigmentation is never green in appearance, melasma is the preferred term.
Some related resources that may be of interest include the following:
- Focus on Fractional Laser Resurfacing (Medscape CME course)
- Medscape Pregnancy Resource Center
- Laser Treatment of Benign Pigmented Lesions (eMedicine article)
- Skin Lightening and Depigmenting Agents (eMedicine article)
Pathophysiology
The pathophysiology of melasma is uncertain. In many cases, a direct relationship with female hormonal activity appears to be present because it occurs with pregnancy and with the use of oral contraceptive pills. Other factors implicated in the etiopathogenesis of melasma are photosensitizing medications, mild ovarian or thyroid dysfunction, and certain cosmetics.
The most important factor in the development of melasma is exposure to sunlight. Without the strict avoidance of sunlight, potentially successful treatments for melasma are doomed to fail.
Race
Persons of any race can be affected. However, it is much more common in constitutionally darker skin types than in lighter skin types, and it may be more common in light brown skin types, especially Hispanics and Asians, from areas of the world with intense sun exposure.
Sex
Melasma is much more common in women than in men. Women are affected in 90% of cases. When men are affected, the clinical and histologic picture is identical.
Age
Melasma is rare before puberty and most commonly occurs in women during their reproductive years.
Clinical
History
- Patients may inquire about progressive hyperpigmentation of the face, which may be temporally related to pregnancy or to the use of oral contraceptive pills.
- Intense or chronic exposure to sunlight worsens the condition and may precipitate melasma, but because the development of pigmentation is often insidious, patients may not recognize the association.
Physical
- The macular hyperpigmentation of melasma is commonly tan to brown. Blue or black may be evident in patients with dermal melasma. The distribution is 1 of 3 patterns: centrofacial, malar, or mandibular. A rare pattern confined to the forearms is seen in women receiving exogenous progesterone and in Native American Indians.
- The excess melanin can be visually localized to the epidermis or the dermis by use of a Wood lamp (wavelength, 340-400 nm).
- Epidermal pigment is enhanced during examination with a Wood light, whereas, dermal pigment is not.
- Clinically, a large amount of dermal melanin is suspected if the hyperpigmentation is bluish black.
- In individuals with dark-brown skin, examination with a Wood light does not localize pigment, and these patients are thus classified as indeterminate.
Causes
A genetic predisposition is a major factor in the development of melasma. It is much more common in women than in men. Persons with light brown skin types from regions of the world with intense sun exposure are much more prone to the development of melasma. More than 30% of patients have a family history of melasma. Identical twins have been reported to develop melasma,1 while other siblings under similar conditions did not.
Another major factor is exposure to sunlight. Ultraviolet radiation can cause peroxidation of lipids in cellular membranes, leading to generation of free radicals, which could stimulate melanocytes to produce excess melanin. Sunscreens that primarily block UV-B radiation (290-320 nm) are unsatisfactory because longer wavelengths (UV-A and visible radiation, 320-700 nm) also stimulate melanocytes to produce melanin.
Hormonal influences play a role in some individuals. The mask of pregnancy is well known to obstetric patients. The exact mechanism by which pregnancy affects melasma is unknown. Estrogen, progesterone, and melanocyte-stimulating hormone (MSH) levels are normally increased during the third trimester of pregnancy. However, nulliparous patients with melasma have no increased levels of estrogen or MSH. In addition, the occurrence of melasma with estrogen- and progesterone-containing oral contraceptive pills and diethylstilbestrol treatment for prostate cancer has been reported.2 The observation that postmenopausal woman who are given progesterone develop melasma, while those who are given only estrogen do not, implicates progesterone as playing a critical role in the development of melasma.
One study found a 4-fold increase in thyroid disease in patients with melasma when compared with matched controls. A case report of 2 women who developed melasma after sudden and profound emotional stress implicated the release of MSH by the hypothalamus as a cause. Exactly which hormones and what mechanisms are involved in the development of melasma are yet to be determined. Genetic and hormonal influences in combination with ultraviolet radiation are the 2 most important causes of melasma, yet phototoxic and photoallergic medications and certain cosmetics have been reported to cause melasma in rare instances.
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References
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Further Reading
Keywords
chloasma, the mask of pregnancy, hypermelanosis
