Melasma
objectives
General definition
Etiology
Signs and Symptoms
Diagnosis
Treatment and Management
Case Hx
A 25-year-old woman with Fitzpatrick type IV skin complains of a
darkening of the skin on her cheeks, nose, upper lip and forehead that
began 7 months ago during her first pregnancy.
The lesions are asymptomatic “ not pruritic nor painful “, and they’re
exacerbated by sun exposure.
No history of atopy or other skin diseases.
There’s no history of new cosmetics usage
Physical examination
- Well-demarcated, hyperpigmented macules are seen on the cheek,
nose, and upper lip.
- Bilateral, symmetrical, with
irregular shapes smooth surface
and variable pigment intensity.
- Size 4-6 cm
What is Melasma?
Melasma (black spot)
• Acquired light- or dark-brown hyperpigmentation that occurs in the
exposed areas.
• Often affect face
• Aetiology: Sunlight – Hormonal – Genetic predisposition.
• Commonly among :
1- Constitutive brown skin.
2- Whose taking contraceptive pills.
3- Living in sunny climates.
90% are women
Pathophysiology
Pathophysiology
1- Sun exposure
Ultraviolet (UV) light from the sun stimulates the melanocytes production.
In fact, just a small amount of sun exposure can make melasma return after
fading.
This is why melasma often is worse in summer. It also is the main reason why
many people with melasma get it again and again.
2- A change in hormones
When melasma appears in pregnant women, it is called chloasma, or the
mask of pregnancy.
Birth control pills and hormone replacement medicine also can trigger
melasma.
CONT
3- Cosmetics:
Skin care products that irritate the skin or have estrogenic substance
may worsen melasma.
Classification
Epidermal Dermal Mixed Indetermined
Comments melanin is
increased in the
epidermis, with
only a few
melanocytes in
the upper
dermis
many
melanophages
throughout the
entire dermis
melanin is
increased in the
epidermis,
many
melanophages
throughout the
dermis
Seen with
people with
Fitzpatrick type
V or VI skin
Wood lamp
examination
Enhanced does not
enhance
spotty
enhancement
Not helpful
Clinical manifestation
(It causes brown to gray-brown patches), sharply marginated, roughly
symmetric patches of hyperpigmentation on the face.
(usually on the forehead, malar and mandibular).
Some people get patches on their forearms or neck. This is less common.
Melasma risk factors
Pregnant women
Women taking any contraceptives. But commonly oral (estrogen)
Skin type III, IV.
Sun exposure.
Family Hx of melisma
furosemide, ACE-inhibitors, beta-blockers, hydrochlorothiazide, and
anti-seizure medications,
Diagnosis
Wood lamp Examination  Usually epidermial location.
Biopsy to exclude other differential diagnosis
Management
Education:
1- Use sun protection daily and compliant to treatment
2- stop OCPs and facia cosmetics
Goals of treatment: curative and prophylactic
A- Hydroquinone ( 1st line)
B- Tretinoin and corticosteroids
C- azelaic acid
D- Kligman formulation (BEST)
Combination of fluocinolone 0.01%, hydroquinone 4%, and tretinoin 0.05%.
Hydroquinone:
This medicine is a common first treatment for melasma.
It is applied to the skin and works by lightening the skin. It’s came as a
cream, lotion, gel, or liquid.
Applied every night
Tretinoin and corticosteroids:
To enhance skin lightening, dermatologist may prescribe a second
medicine.
This medicine may be tretinoin or a corticosteroid.
Sometimes a medicine contains 3 medicines (hydroquinone,
tretinoin, and a corticosteroid) in 1 cream. This is often called a
triple cream.
Other topical (applied to the
skin) medicines:
Dermatologist may prescribe azelaic acid lighten melasma. (Used in
pregnancy)
Sun protectors
Agents that protect against UVA include:
oxybenzone, avobenzone, and terephthalylidene dicamphor sulfonic
acid.
Agents that protect against UVB include:
octocrylene, padimate O, octinoxate, and ensulizole.
Follow up: after 3 months.
Side-effect
Skin irritation:
Darkening of the skin.
acne, rosacea, atrophy, or telangiectasias.
Notes
Epidermal melasma- best therapeutic results.
Dermal melasma – disappointing
Relapse on stopping treatment is common
Maintainance therapy adviced
Reference
http://www.dermatology.ca
Ball Arefiev KL, Hantash BM. Advances in the treatment of melasma: a review of
the recent literature. Dermatol Surg. 2012;38:971-984.
Lakhdar H, Zouhair K, Khadir K, et al. Evaluation of the effectiveness of a broad-
spectrum sunscreen in the prevention of chloasma in pregnant women. J Eur
Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2007;21:738-742.
Guinot C, Cheffai S, Latreille J, et al. Aggravating factors for melasma: a
prospective study in 197 Tunisian patients. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol.
2010;24:1060-1069.
http://bestpractice.bmj.com/best-practice/monograph/627/follow-
up/prognosis.html
Fitzpatricks Color Atlas and Synopsis of Clinical Dermatology 7th ED
Thank you

Melasma

  • 1.
  • 2.
    objectives General definition Etiology Signs andSymptoms Diagnosis Treatment and Management
  • 3.
    Case Hx A 25-year-oldwoman with Fitzpatrick type IV skin complains of a darkening of the skin on her cheeks, nose, upper lip and forehead that began 7 months ago during her first pregnancy. The lesions are asymptomatic “ not pruritic nor painful “, and they’re exacerbated by sun exposure. No history of atopy or other skin diseases. There’s no history of new cosmetics usage
  • 4.
    Physical examination - Well-demarcated,hyperpigmented macules are seen on the cheek, nose, and upper lip. - Bilateral, symmetrical, with irregular shapes smooth surface and variable pigment intensity. - Size 4-6 cm
  • 5.
  • 6.
    Melasma (black spot) •Acquired light- or dark-brown hyperpigmentation that occurs in the exposed areas. • Often affect face • Aetiology: Sunlight – Hormonal – Genetic predisposition. • Commonly among : 1- Constitutive brown skin. 2- Whose taking contraceptive pills. 3- Living in sunny climates. 90% are women
  • 8.
  • 9.
    Pathophysiology 1- Sun exposure Ultraviolet(UV) light from the sun stimulates the melanocytes production. In fact, just a small amount of sun exposure can make melasma return after fading. This is why melasma often is worse in summer. It also is the main reason why many people with melasma get it again and again. 2- A change in hormones When melasma appears in pregnant women, it is called chloasma, or the mask of pregnancy. Birth control pills and hormone replacement medicine also can trigger melasma.
  • 10.
    CONT 3- Cosmetics: Skin careproducts that irritate the skin or have estrogenic substance may worsen melasma.
  • 11.
    Classification Epidermal Dermal MixedIndetermined Comments melanin is increased in the epidermis, with only a few melanocytes in the upper dermis many melanophages throughout the entire dermis melanin is increased in the epidermis, many melanophages throughout the dermis Seen with people with Fitzpatrick type V or VI skin Wood lamp examination Enhanced does not enhance spotty enhancement Not helpful
  • 12.
    Clinical manifestation (It causesbrown to gray-brown patches), sharply marginated, roughly symmetric patches of hyperpigmentation on the face. (usually on the forehead, malar and mandibular). Some people get patches on their forearms or neck. This is less common.
  • 14.
    Melasma risk factors Pregnantwomen Women taking any contraceptives. But commonly oral (estrogen) Skin type III, IV. Sun exposure. Family Hx of melisma furosemide, ACE-inhibitors, beta-blockers, hydrochlorothiazide, and anti-seizure medications,
  • 15.
    Diagnosis Wood lamp Examination Usually epidermial location. Biopsy to exclude other differential diagnosis
  • 16.
    Management Education: 1- Use sunprotection daily and compliant to treatment 2- stop OCPs and facia cosmetics Goals of treatment: curative and prophylactic A- Hydroquinone ( 1st line) B- Tretinoin and corticosteroids C- azelaic acid D- Kligman formulation (BEST) Combination of fluocinolone 0.01%, hydroquinone 4%, and tretinoin 0.05%.
  • 17.
    Hydroquinone: This medicine isa common first treatment for melasma. It is applied to the skin and works by lightening the skin. It’s came as a cream, lotion, gel, or liquid. Applied every night
  • 18.
    Tretinoin and corticosteroids: Toenhance skin lightening, dermatologist may prescribe a second medicine. This medicine may be tretinoin or a corticosteroid. Sometimes a medicine contains 3 medicines (hydroquinone, tretinoin, and a corticosteroid) in 1 cream. This is often called a triple cream.
  • 20.
    Other topical (appliedto the skin) medicines: Dermatologist may prescribe azelaic acid lighten melasma. (Used in pregnancy)
  • 21.
    Sun protectors Agents thatprotect against UVA include: oxybenzone, avobenzone, and terephthalylidene dicamphor sulfonic acid. Agents that protect against UVB include: octocrylene, padimate O, octinoxate, and ensulizole. Follow up: after 3 months.
  • 22.
    Side-effect Skin irritation: Darkening ofthe skin. acne, rosacea, atrophy, or telangiectasias.
  • 23.
    Notes Epidermal melasma- besttherapeutic results. Dermal melasma – disappointing Relapse on stopping treatment is common Maintainance therapy adviced
  • 24.
    Reference http://www.dermatology.ca Ball Arefiev KL,Hantash BM. Advances in the treatment of melasma: a review of the recent literature. Dermatol Surg. 2012;38:971-984. Lakhdar H, Zouhair K, Khadir K, et al. Evaluation of the effectiveness of a broad- spectrum sunscreen in the prevention of chloasma in pregnant women. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2007;21:738-742. Guinot C, Cheffai S, Latreille J, et al. Aggravating factors for melasma: a prospective study in 197 Tunisian patients. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2010;24:1060-1069. http://bestpractice.bmj.com/best-practice/monograph/627/follow- up/prognosis.html Fitzpatricks Color Atlas and Synopsis of Clinical Dermatology 7th ED
  • 25.

Editor's Notes

  • #9 centrofacial, malar, mandibular. Can affect different areas, such as the forearms and neck.
  • #10 Solar elastosis, also known as actinic elastosis, is a disorder in which the skin appears yellow and thickened as a result of sun damage
  • #12 Epidermal most common
  • #15 Pregnancy  melisma increase at third trimester due to increased levels of melanin-stimulating hormone (MSH), post-inflammatory phenomenon, and UV light exposure in pregnant women
  • #16 Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation  Hyperpigmentation of skin that was previously inflamed due to dermatitis. Diagnosis is typically made on history of erythema, pruritus, and dermatitis preceding the hyperpigmentation. Phototoxic reaction  Seen in patients exposed to systemic or topical medicines or cosmetics, and then UV radiation. Disease usually begins abruptly, in contrast to melasma, which develops gradually. Exogenous ochronosis Skin hyperpigmentation associated with use of the bleaching agent hydroquinone. It is caused by the deposition of polymerised homogentisic acid in the skin. Historically, this condition follows use of hydroquinone products, and distribution correlates with areas of medicine application. Most commonly seen in people with Fitzpatrick type V or VI skin who have used hydroquinone-containing preparations of >3% concentration for months to years, and who have had significant UV light exposure without the use of photoprotection. Biopsy reveal golden-yellow to brown deposition of pigment in the dermis. Erythema dyschromicum perstans Also called ashy dermatosis. Most frequently seen in Hispanic people and can be seen at any age. Clinically, it presents as multiple blue-grey macules on the neck, chest, and sometimes the face. The colour and distribution, as well as the lack of association with UV light exposure, help to differentiate it from melisma. Biopsy reveal non-specific, but can show some cell death at the dermal-epidermal junction, as well as pigment incontinence.
  • #17 hydroquinone 3% solution and 4% cream; azelaic acid 20% cream; and a combination of fluocinolone 0.01%, hydroquinone 4%, and tretinoin 0.05%. Hydroquinone 4% cream can be compounded with 0.05% tretinoin cream or glycolic acid.
  • #23 Hydroquinone inhibits the activity of the enzyme homogentisic acid oxidase and can cause polymerisation of homogentisic acid, which is then deposited in the skin. The result is a blue-black discoloration of the skin in areas treated with hydroquinone. This condition is seen primarily in darker-skinned people who use hydroquinone-containing preparations (usually ≥3%) for a period of months to years, and is thought to occur more commonly in those who do not use adequate photoprotection. This complication is seen most commonly in African countries, where high-concentration hydroquinone-containing products are readily available. If the treating physician encounters this reaction, hydroquinone-containing medicines should be discontinued immediately. This condition can slowly fade, but is permanent in some cases