Melasma (Chloasma, Pregnancy Mask) outside the face

Extra-facial melasma: clinical, histopathological, and immunohistochemical case-control study.
Ritter CG, Fiss DV, Borges da Costa JA, de Carvalho RR, Bauermann G, Cestari TF.
J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2013 Sep;27(9):1088-94. doi: 10.1111/j.1468-3083.2012.04655.x. Epub 2012 Jul 24.

• Melasma is a common pigmentary disorder in women in their childbearing years taking the oral contraceptive pill.
• Its location is typically on the face (centro-facial, peripheral).
• It has been reported to be also sometimes present on other parts of the body.

• In that case the the study tries to determine clinical, histopathological and immunohistochemical characteristics.
• 45 patients were included of which 36 were biopsied (lesional and perilesional skin)

• Interestingly patients were aged on average 57 years old, and 87% were women. Interestingly 82.1% of women HAD REACHED MENOPAUSE.
• Also patients who has had melasma previously or a family history of extra-facial melasma were more at risk of developing the condition.
• Histology slides showed more basal rectification and hyperpigmentation, solar elastosis and collagen degeneration in the pigment deposition area.
• Immunohistochemistry detected an increased concentration of melanin although the number of melanocytes remained normal.