What are the symptoms of melasma?

Symptoms of MELASMA are: (1) Black/blue/brown spots or moles, on the skin and lining of the mouth. (2) Redness or bumps on the skin, that occur or worsen with cosmetics

Melasma Quiz

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Skin has moles or spots of different colors

Redness of the skin

Cosmetics reaction

Black, blue, or brown spots on the skin or elsewhere

Red spots on skin

Skin allergy to cosmetics

Discolored macules or moles on skin/mucus membranes

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Learn more about Melasma

Content updated on Nov 2, 2022

What is melasma?

A skin condition characterized by brown or blue-gray patches or freckle-like spots. Melasma happens because of overproduction of the cells that make the color of the skin. Melasma is so common during pregnancy that it’s sometimes called the “mask of pregnancy.”

Symptoms of melasma

Black/blue/brown spots or moles, on the skin and lining of the mouth
Redness or bumps on the skin, that occur or worsen with cosmetics

Questions your doctor may ask to check for melasma

Your doctor may ask these questions to diagnose melasma

Are there black, blue, or brown spots on the skin or elsewhere? (Including moles)
Do your rashes occur or worsen after using cosmetics?

Treatment for melasma

Avoid the sun, tanning beds, LED screens, irritating soaps and birth control that includes hormones as they may worsen the melasma. The combination of hydroquinone, tretinoin and a moderate topical steroid can be effective in treating melasma.

View the symptoms of Melasma

Moles on the skin and lining of the mouth

Diseases related to Melasma

References

Passeron T, Picardo M. Melasma, a photoaging disorder. Pigment Cell Melanoma Res. 2018 Jul;31(4):461-465. doi: 10.1111/pcmr.12684. Epub 2018 Jan 12. PMID: 29285880.
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/pcmr.12684
Kwon SH, Na JI, Choi JY, Park KC. Melasma: Updates and perspectives. Exp Dermatol. 2019 Jun;28(6):704-708. doi: 10.1111/exd.13844. Epub 2018 Dec 21. PMID: 30422338.
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/exd.13844
Sarkar R, Bansal A, Ailawadi P. Future therapies in melasma: What lies ahead? Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol. 2020 Jan-Feb;86(1):8-17. doi: 10.4103/ijdvl.IJDVL_633_18. Erratum in: Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol. 2020 Sep-Oct;86(5):608. PMID: 31793496.
https://ijdvl.com/future-therapies-in-melasma-what-lies-ahead/
Rajanala S, Maymone MBC, Vashi NA. Melasma pathogenesis: a review of the latest research, pathological findings, and investigational therapies. Dermatol Online J. 2019 Oct 15;25(10):13030/qt47b7r28c. PMID: 31735001.
https://escholarship.org/uc/item/47b7r28c

Reviewed By:

Yukiko Ueda, MD (Dermatology)

From our team of 50+ doctors

Just 3 minutes.
Developed by doctors.