title: Inflammatory features of melasma lesions in Asian skin.
abstract: Melasma is triggered by various factors including ultraviolet radiation and estrogen; however, its pathogenesis is unclear. To investigate the inflammatory features of melasma lesions as triggers for this disorder, 197 women with melasma who attended Asan Medical Center and Kangskin Clinic, Seoul, from June 2011 to October 2011 completed a questionnaire concerning triggering or aggravating factors. These cases were divided into "non-inflammatory" and "inflammatory" groups. Skin biopsies and immunostaining for CD68, CD117, and leukocyte common antigen (LCA) were performed in the lesional and peri-lesional skin of ten cases in the non-inflammatory group and nine cases in the inflammatory group. Among the 197 subjects (mean age, 41.5 years; mean age of melasma onset, 33.8 years), 50 patients (25.4%) were categorized into the inflammatory group. This group comprised cases that had inflammatory symptoms and events that triggered the melasma lesions. The lesional dermis contained more CD68(+) melanophages, CD117(+) mast cells, and LCA(+) leukocytes in the inflammatory group than in the non-inflammatory group. Inflammatory clinical features and an increased number of inflammatory cells in the lesion may be involved in the development of melasma in Asian skin.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Tai Kyung
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Noh
authors.forename: Seok Joo
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Bo Young
authors.initials: BY
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: Jin Soo
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Jong Hee
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Mi Woo
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Sung Eun
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Chang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D044466:Asian People; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008548:Melanosis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Asian skin; inflammatory features; melasma; subtype of melasma; triggering factor