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What is Melasma - Condition and Causes?

asked 1 year ago by mike23
Latest answer by Anatoli Freiman, MD
Question viewed 249 times
Tags: age 25-34, male, causes

Being 33 and male, I was diagnosed by my derm as having melasma. I had a chemical peel, picked the scab, and it left a dark mark exactly where the scab was. My question is, is melasma just a word to describe a condition or is it a condition with a specific cause? If it is a condition with a specific cause (hormones), there's no way my derm could know this about me without some objective lab exams, right?

4 answers to What is Melasma - Condition and Causes?

+1

Melasma

Melasma is a multifactorial condition, usually caused by sun exposure and hormonal factors. Check out torontodermatologycentre.com website for some more information about melasma
Anatoli Freiman, MD

Toronto Dermatologist
+1

Melasma is usually the result of estrogen (female hormone), genetic predisposition, and sunlight

Melasma is usually the result of estrogen (female hormone), genetic predisposition, and sunlight. It is unusual in males.
Edward Lack, MD

Chicago Dermatologist
+1

Melasma - Condition and Causes?

Hi Mike.  Melasma is a condition associated with excess pigmentation (color) of the face.  It occurs most frequently in women that are undergoing hormonal changes such as birth control, pregnancy and menopause.  It is often referred to as the "pregnancy mask".  The hormonal changes cause production of excess melanocytes (colored skin cells) and this in turn shows up on the face as patches of brown skin. Even though it occurs most commonly in women, men also... more
Harold J. Kaplan, MD

Los Angeles Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

What is Melasma

Regarding: "What is Melasma - Condition and Causes? Being 33 and male, I was diagnosed by my derm as having melasma. I had a chemical peel, picked the scab, and it left a dark mark exactly where the scab was. My question is, is melasma just a word to describe a condition or is it a condition with a specific cause? If it is a condition with a specific cause (hormones), there's no way my derm could know this about me without some objective lab exams, right?" Sounds... more
Peter A. Aldea, MD

Memphis Plastic Surgeon

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