Melasma

What is melasma?

Melasma is a common skin problem, which causes brown to gray-brown patches, usually on the face. Most people get it on their cheeks, bridge of their nose, forehead, chin, and above their upper lip. It also can appear on other parts of the body that get lots of sun, such as the forearms and neck.

Melasma appears on women’s skin much more often than men’s skin. Just 10% of people who get melasma are men. People with darker skin, such as those of Latin/Hispanic, North African, African-American, Asian, Indian, Middle Eastern, or Mediterranean descent are more likely to get melasma. People who have a blood relative who had melasma also are much more likely to get melasma.

Melasma often affects women who:

• Have dark skin
• Take oral contraceptives or hormone therapy
• Are pregnant