Periorbital melasma: Hierarchical cluster analysis of clinical features in Asian patients.
BACKGROUND
Studies have shown melasma lesions to be distributed across the face in centrofacial, malar, and mandibular patterns. Meanwhile, however, melasma lesions of the periorbital area have yet to be thoroughly described.


METHODS
We analyzed normal and ultraviolet light-exposed photographs of patients with melasma. The periorbital melasma lesions were measured according to anatomical reference points and a hierarchical cluster analysis was performed.


RESULTS
The periorbital melasma lesions showed clinical features of fine and homogenous melasma pigmentation, involving both the upper and lower eyelids that extended to other anatomical sites with a darker and coarser appearance. The hierarchical cluster analysis indicated that patients with periorbital melasma can be categorized into two clusters according to the surface anatomy of the face. Significant differences between cluster 1 and cluster 2 were found in lateral distance and inferolateral distance, but not in medial distance and superior distance. Comparing the two clusters, patients in cluster 2 were found to be significantly older and more commonly accompanied by melasma lesions of the temple and medial cheek.


CONCLUSIONS
Our hierarchical cluster analysis of periorbital melasma lesions demonstrated that Asian patients with periorbital melasma can be categorized into two clusters according to the surface anatomy of the face.
Department of Dermatology, St. Vincent's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Suwon, Korea.
Y S
YS
Jung
Department of Dermatology, St. Vincent's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Suwon, Korea.
J M
JM
Bae
Department of Dermatology, Chung-Ang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
B J
http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2320-7621
BJ
Kim
Kangskin Dermatology Clinic, Seoul, Korea.
J-S
JS
Kang
Department of Dermatology, Chung-Ang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.|Kangskin Dermatology Clinic, Seoul, Korea.|Department of Dermatology, International St. Mary's Hospital, Catholic Kwandong University College of Medicine, Incheon, Korea.
S B
http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6748-5071
SB
Cho
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D044466:Asian People / Q000208:ethnology; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D005142:Eyelid Neoplasms / Q000208:ethnology / Q000473:pathology; D005153:Facial Neoplasms / Q000208:ethnology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008548:Melanosis / Q000208:ethnology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D008875:Middle Aged; D009915:Orbit; D010781:Photography; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays; D055815:Young Adult
hierarchical cluster analysis; melasma; orbicularis oculi muscle; periorbital hyperpigmentation