Melasma
Introduction Melasma (also referred to as chloasma or mask of pregnancy) is a persistent and recurring skin condition that is difficult to treat. It results from excessive production of melanin by melanocytes in the skin. It usually presents as light-brown to grey-brown macules and patches on sun-exposed skin. Lesion are usually symmetric and may affect the forehead, nose, cheeks, upper lip area and chin. It is typically seen in women of childbearing age but may also occur in men. NOTE: Given its frequent facial involvement, melasma can significantly affect patients' quality of life. Main Risk and Trigger Factors Genetic predisposition Exposure to sunlight Skin phototypes (mainly darker skin types) Hormonal factors (including pregnancy, hormonal therapies and oral contraceptives) Management Management can often be challenging as it often results in incomplete response and frequent relapses. In most cases, a multimodality approach is required based on the patient's charact...