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Inflammatory features of melasma lesions in Asian skin
Author(s) -
Noh Tai Kyung,
Choi Seok Joo,
Chung Bo Young,
Kang Jin Soo,
Lee Jong Hee,
Lee Mi Woo,
Chang Sung Eun
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
the journal of dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.9
H-Index - 65
eISSN - 1346-8138
pISSN - 0385-2407
DOI - 10.1111/1346-8138.12573
Subject(s) - melasma , medicine , dermatology , pathogenesis , dermis , pathology
Melasma is triggered by various factors including ultraviolet radiation and estrogen; however, its pathogenesis is unclear. To investigate the inflammatory features of melasma lesions as triggers for this disorder, 197 women with melasma who attended Asan Medical Center and Kangskin Clinic, Seoul, from June 2011 to October 2011 completed a questionnaire concerning triggering or aggravating factors. These cases were divided into “non‐inflammatory” and “inflammatory” groups. Skin biopsies and immunostaining for CD 68, CD 117, and leukocyte common antigen ( LCA ) were performed in the lesional and peri‐lesional skin of ten cases in the non‐inflammatory group and nine cases in the inflammatory group. Among the 197 subjects (mean age, 41.5 years; mean age of melasma onset, 33.8 years), 50 patients (25.4%) were categorized into the inflammatory group. This group comprised cases that had inflammatory symptoms and events that triggered the melasma lesions. The lesional dermis contained more CD 68 + melanophages, CD 117 + mast cells, and LCA + leukocytes in the inflammatory group than in the non‐inflammatory group. Inflammatory clinical features and an increased number of inflammatory cells in the lesion may be involved in the development of melasma in Asian skin.