MELASMA IN BASRAH: A CLINICAL AND EPIDEMIOLOGICAL STUDY

Abstract

ABSTRACTA total of 392 individuals were enrolled in the study divided into two main groups (196 melasma cases and 196control group). Melasma prevalence and diagnosis were done by screening different groups of population onclinical basis with the aids of Wood's light examination (by the same dermatologist). The study was carriedout at the departments of microbiology and dermatology in Basrah medical college during the period fromOctober 2003 to the end of March 2005. The study showed that melasma was more prevalent in age intervals of21-30 years and 31-40 years presented in 45.7% and 38.2% respectively. The prevalence of melasma amongdermatological clinic attendants was 0.57% while the prevalence among pregnant women, female teachers andmale outdoor workers were presented in 37.9%, 17.5% and 14.2% respectively. Melasma was more frequentamong brown skin patients (75.5%) compared to white (18.3%) and black (6.1%) colored skin (P<0.01). Alsonon-seborrhoeic skin patients was more affected (63.2%) than seborrhoeic skin (37.6%) patients (P<0.01).However, sun exposure for 4-6 hours daily was the leading aggravating factor (59.7%) of the total melasmacases although drugs and cosmetics (18.4%) and emotional factor (40.3%) had significant (P<0.01) effect onprevalence of melasma in the community.