Background: Melasma is a common patchy brown, tan or blue-gray facial skin discoloration usually seen in women in the reproductive years.
Aim: To study the role of estrogen in etiopathogenesis of melasma in female patients.
Objectives: To study the estrogen levels and its imbalance in female patients attending Dermatology OPD of C.R.G.H. within 1 year by correlating with the normal levels.
Patients and Methods: Sixty -six female patients suffering from melasma, between the ages of 15-45 years, were enrolled in the study. Patients were investigated for estrogen levels at any time of their menstrual cycle and estrogen values estimated according to follicular and luteal phase values.
Results: Amongst the sixty- six patients, there were only 18 (27.3%) patients who had normal values for estrogen while the remaining 48 patients (72.7%) had deranged values (mostly increased).
Conclusion: Estrogen plays an important role in causation of melasma.
Key Words: Melasma, estrogen, discolouration, reproductive years
