title: Serum iron level, ferritin and total iron binding capacity level among nonpregnant women with and without melasma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Melasma is a common acquired disorder characterized by symmetric, hyperpigmented patches with an irregular outline, occurring most commonly on the face. It is most prevalent among young to middle-aged women. Although iron overload affects skin pigmentation, effect of iron deficiency on skin is not clear. So, we evaluated serum iron level, ferritin and total iron binding capacity (TIBC) level among nonpregnant women with and without melasma.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional case study was conducted in 2012 at university dermatologic department on 33 nonpregnant women with melasma (case) and 33 nonpregnant women without melasma (control). Serum iron level, TIBC and ferritin in the two groups was measured and compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Serum iron level was lower in the case group (85 ± 11) in comparison with control group (102 ± 9), but the difference was not significant (P: 0.9). Mean TIBC and Ferritin were higher in the case group (TIBC: 329.4 ± 29, ferritin: 6 ± 18) than the control group (TIBC: 329.3 ± 29, ferritin: 33 ± 6) without significant difference.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although the serum iron level was lower in nonpregnant women with mealsma, it was not significant compared with those without melasma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Rasoul Akram Hospital, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Elham
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Behrangi
authors.affiliation: Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Farzaneh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Baniasadi
authors.affiliation: Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Shooka
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Esmaeeli
authors.affiliation: Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Kosar
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hedayat
authors.affiliation: Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Azade
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Goodarzi
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Rasoul Akram Hospital, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Zahra
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Azizian
keywords: Ferritin; melasma; serum iron level; total iron binding capacity