melasma

(noun)

A tan or dark skin discoloration, particularly common in pregnant women, thought to be caused by the stimulation of melanocytes by estrogen and progesterone.

Related Terms

Examples of melasma in the following topics:

  • Skin Color as a Diagnostic Clue

    • Changes in skin color can be diagnostic of trauma (bruising), environmental, or physiological changes (jaundice, melasma, and liver spots).
    • Changes in skin color can be diagnostic of trauma, such as a bruise, or other changes in physiological condition, such as melasma, and liver spots.
    • Melasma is a tan or dark skin discoloration .
    • The incidence of melasma also increases in patients with thyroid disease.
    • Women with a light brown skin type who are living in regions with intense sun exposure are particularly susceptible to developing melasma.