A retrospective study on the clinical presentation and treatment outcome of melasma in a tertiary dermatological referral centre in Singapore.
BACKGROUND
This is a retrospective study on the epidemiology of 205 patients with melasma seen in a tertiary dermatological referral centre in Singapore.


METHODS
The mean age of the 205 patients with melasma was 42.3 years with a female preponderance of 21:1 female to male ratio. There were proportionally more Chinese with melasma than the other races compared to the racial distribution of patients attending our clinic. Ninety percent of our patients had skin type III or IV. The mean age of onset of melasma was 37.6 years. Most sought treatment only 5 years after the appearance of their melasma. Forty-six percent of melasma were light brown, the majority of which were distributed on the malar areas (89%). More than 2/3 had epidermal melasma. Eighty-eight percent had mild localised melasma (occurring on < 20% of the total facial area). Only 26.8% of our patients reported sun exposure, 25 (12.1%) reported pregnancy and 27 (13.1%) reported oral contraceptives as precipitating factors. A positive family history of melasma was observed in 21 (10.2%) patients. Sunscreen forms the backbone in the treatment of melasma in our patients. Most patients were prescribed a sunscreen together with hydroquinone containing bleaching cream (54%) as first line treatment. Patients with epidermal type of melasma responded slightly better to treatment than those with dermal type of melasma (28% experienced > 25% reduction in pigmentation compared to 16% respectively (n.s.)).


CONCLUSIONS
Overall, 53% of our patients experienced some reduction of pigmentation with 28% experiencing > 25% reduction and 7% experiencing > 75% reduction. In 40%, the pigmentation remained stable with treatment. Treatment of melasma remains an enigma. More studies need to be undertaken to improve treatment response to alleviate the psychosocial impact melasma has on the patient.
Goh
C L
CL
National Skin Centre, Singapore.
Dlova
C N
CN
D000328:Adult; D003358:Cosmetics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008548:Melanosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012846:Singapore; D013473:Sunscreening Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D003358:Cosmetics; D013473:Sunscreening Agents