The histopathological characteristics of male melasma: Comparison with female melasma and lentigo

Use of Redness Assessment in Melasma Lesions in Skin Whitening Evaluation

“…In a previous study, it is considerable different from non-lesional skin in the vessel size and area in female melasma skin [9]. Therefore, it suggested that higher value of a * in the melasma lesions compared to the non-lesional skin is due to increased vascularity in melasma lesions [5].…”

“…A recent study compared the difference in erythema as well as melanin index between melasma and normal skin, and the results showed that these factors in lesional skin were higher than in normal skin [8]. Moreover, an increase in the vascularity in the male melasma was higher than lentigo lesional skin in men and female [9]. Thus, we have to depict and analyze a * for redness, by investigating improvement in melasma and solar lentigo lesions through treatment.…”

Melasma in Men

“…Significantly increased expression of stem cell factor (SCF) around dermal fibroblast in dermis and its c-kit receptor in the basal layer of epidermis was found in lesional skin compared to nonlesional [12,17]. Moreover, the expression of SCF was increased in men compared to women [12]. These results suggest that chronic UV radiation associated with signalling of paracrine cytokines would play an important role in the mechanism of melasma in male patients [1].…”

“…No evidence of basal layer degeneration was found [2]. Significantly increased expression of stem cell factor (SCF) around dermal fibroblast in dermis and its c-kit receptor in the basal layer of epidermis was found in lesional skin compared to nonlesional [12,17]. Moreover, the expression of SCF was increased in men compared to women [12].…”

“…Melasma usually occurs in women after pregnancy or using hormonal contraception. Higher level of estrogen receptor expression were found in affected skin in women on oral contraceptive pills [3,12]. Effect of sun for hypermelanosis is indisputable.…”