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AGE OF ONSET AND TREATMENT TRENDS OF MELASMA IN PAKISTAN

Dr Javaria Anwer, Dr Baseera Imran, Dr Kiran Ishtiaq

Melasma is an acquired hypermelanosis of the skin usually affecting the face and other sun-exposed areas. There is no universally effective specific therapy for the disease and patients find it difficult to choose one treatment modality for them. The main objectives of this study was to determine the age of onset of melasma, treatment seeking behaviours and reasons for treating Melasma in the first place and for not complying with the treatment options for Melasma. A cross-sectional survey was conducted via a self-administered anonymous questionnaire on 100 conveniently selected melasma patients visiting Out Patient Department (OPD) of Sir Ganga Raam hospital Lahore. Out of 100 melasma patients; most being females, the average age of onset of Melasma was 26.42±7.664 years. As a treatment trend 14% sought treatment immediately after melasma while 32% sought no medical treatment/consultation. Cosmetic reason; looking good (72%) and social pressure (12%) contributed the most in seeking treatment for melasma. The most frequently used treatment modalities were; Bleaching agents (69%) and fairness creams (56%) while dermatologists ranked third. Patients used many treatments with less than required compliance to any with major reason being expenses (22%) and long duration of treatment (13%). Public awareness should be employed that melasma is a disease which has to be treated by a dermatologist, and not just a skin darkening to be treated by a lightening agent. Keywords: Melasma, treatment, Pakistan, dermatologist, beauty.

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