title: Melasma in men. A clinical and histologic study.
abstract: Melasma is characterized by a facial hypermelanosis of light to dark brown color, being more common in women of Hispanic origin. In this study, 27 men with melasma were evaluated clinically and histologically to compare their features with those of previous studies. Three patterns of localization were recognized, namely, centrofacial, malar, and mandibular. On the basis of Wood's light examination, an epidermal, a dermal, and a mixed type were identified. Epidermal hyperpigmentation only and epidermal and dermal hyperpigmentation were found in histologic analysis of the cases. Significant etiologic factors included exposure to sunlight in 66.6% as well as a familial predisposition in 70.4% of the cases. This study demonstrated that melasma in men shares the same clinicohistologic characteristics as in women, but hormonal factors do not seem to play major significant role.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine, San Juan.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vázquez
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Maldonado
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Benmamán
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Sánchez
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003358:Cosmetics; D005148:Facial Dermatoses / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008548:Melanosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011647:Puerto Rico; D013472:Sunlight / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D003358:Cosmetics