1. Melasma
Sydney White

2. Description
Melasma is a common skin problem where spots on the skin appear. The spots are usually a brown to a gray brown color. Melasma usually occurs on the cheeks, bridge of nose, forehead, chin and above the upper lip.

3. Scientific Description
Affects the epidermal the outer layer of the skin or the dermal inner layer of the skin

4. Other Signs/Symptoms
Three types of Melasma. Epidermal-well defined border, dark brown, responds well to treatment. Dermal- most common, ill-defined border, light brown/bluish, responds poorly to treatment. Mixed- combination of bluish, light/dark brown patches, partial improvement with treatment.

5. Cause
Melasma can be caused by sun exposure, pregnancy, and birth control. They are not sure what causes Melasma, but it is believed to be caused when the cells in the skin that provide color called melanocytes produce too much color.

6. Cure
There are some medications such as Hydroquinone, or Tretinoin and corticosteroids, there are some other topical medicines your doctor might try or a procedure such as a chemical peel, microdermabrasion, and dermabrasion.

7. Facts about Melasma
Melasma is more common in women than in men. Out of all of the cases of Melasma only about ten percent of them are men.
People with these skin types are more likely to get Melasma: Latin/Hispanic, North African, African-American, Asian, Indian, Middle Eastern, and Mediterranean
There are about six million women in the United States with Melasma and about forty five to fifty million women in the world with it.
Over ninety percent of Melasma cases are women.
Melasma that occurs during pregnancy is called “the mask of pregnancy”.

8. Sources