Evaluation of serum thyroid hormones in female patients with melasma

Abstract

Background & Objectives: Melasma is an acquired hyperpigmented patches dispersed symmetrically on body parts that are exposed to sun, mostly on face of female patients. The precise etiology is obscure, but it has numerous hazards such as; ultra violet exposure, genetic factors, hormonal imbalances like thyroid hormone abnormalities. In this study we aimed to evaluate serum thyroid hormones levels in melasma patients. Methods: A complete of 51 female patients with melasma were enrolled during this study over a period of six months. The cases were clinically diagnosed and examined by Wood’s light, then sent for thyroid hormone levels assessment and the finding were reported. Results: In the current study 51 females with melasma. Their ages ranged between (19-46) years, with (59.9%) between (28-38) years. The duration of melasma was from 6 months to 9 years. Thirty-eight of them were married and had pregnancy. Thyroid stimulating hormone levels were high in 22 of them (43.1%), 20 out of 22 cases that was had high levels of thyroid stimulating hormone had dermal type of melasma by Wood’s lamp examination and their p-value was significant (0.001). Conclusion: We found significantly high levels of thyroid stimulating hormone in cases of melasma mainly among those of dermal type.