TABLE 1.
Etiological factors and clinical features of melasma in men and women5
| CHARACTERISTICS | MEN (N=41) | WOMEN (N=159) | P-VALUE | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AGGRAVATING FACTORS | Sunlight exposure | 20 (48.8%) | 38 (23.9%) | <0.05* |
| Family history of melasma | 16 (39.0%) | 32 (20.1%) | <0.05* | |
| Phenytoin | 3 (7.3%) | 2 (1.3%) | NA | |
| Pregnancy | 0 | 72 (45.3%) | NA | |
| Oral contraceptives | 0 | 31 (19.4%) | NA | |
| History of Chronic illness (Post typhoid period, thyroid disorder, inflammatory bowel disease) | 5 (22.2%) | 32 (20.1%) | >0.05* | |
| Application of mustard oil | 18 (43.9%) | 50 (31.4%) | >0.05* | |
| AGE (YEARS) | Mean age | 33.5 | 31.5 | >0.05** |
| Range of age | 19-53 | 20-45 | NA | |
| DURATION | Duration of melasma (years) | 0.1-8.0 | 0.6-7.0 | NA |
| Mean duration of melasma (years) | 3.5 | 3.1 | >0.05** | |
| CLINICAL PATTERN OF MELASMA | Centrofacial | 12 (29.3%) | 81 (51.0%) | <0.001*** |
| Malar | 25 (61%) | 39 (24.5%) | <0.001*** | |
| Mandibular | 4 (9.7%) | 39 (24.5%) | <0.001*** | |
| WOOD LIGHT EXAMINATION | Epidermal | 28 (68.3%) | 90 (56.6%) | 0.85*** |
| Mixed | 9 (22.0%) | 44 (27.7%) | 0.85*** | |
| Dermal | 4 (9.7%) | 25 (15.7%) | 0.85*** | |
| HISTOPATHOLOGICAL EXAMINATION | Epidermal | 10/20 (50%) | 25/40 (62.5%) | - |
| Mixed | 9/20 (45%) | 12/40 (30%) | - | |
| Dermal | 1/20 (5%) | 3/40 (7.5%) | - | |
*
Z-test for testing difference between two different sample proportion;
**
Independent sample t-test;
***
χ2-test of significance;
<0.001 highly significant;
<0.05 significant;
NA: not applicable for significance testing
Acknowledged from Sarkar R, Garg S. Melasma in men. In: Melasma: A Monograph.1st ed. Sarkar R (ed). New Delhi, India: Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers (P) Ltd; 2015:80–84