Clinical and epidemiological characterization of patients with Melasma in outpatient consultation

Melasma is a hyperpigmentation of multifactorial origin triggered by a combination of environmental, genetic, and hormonal factors, which are important components of quality of life. Objective: To clinically and epidemiologically characterize melasma in patients seen in an outpatient clinic. Methodological design: An observational, descriptive, retrospective, and cross-sectional study was conducted in the outpatient clinic of the “General Calixto García” University Hospital between January 2018 and December 2019. Results: In total, 43.6% of the participants were between 40 and 49 years old. A total of 89.7% were female. A total of 43.6% were classified as skin type III. Sun exposure was the triggering factor for 56.4% of the events. The duration of the condition was between 1 and 4 years in 38.5% of the patients. In 61.5% of the patients, the melasma was centrally distributed on the face. A total of 56.4% had epidermal melasma. A total of 61.5% had moderate-intensity melasma. A total of 33.3% had received prior topical treatment. Conclusions: Female patients aged 40–49 years with skin phototype III predominated. The main risk factor was sun exposure, and the duration of the condition was between 1 and 4 years in most patients. More than half of the patients presented with epidermal melasma of moderate severity distributed in the central facial region. The most frequently used previous treatment was topical therapy.