Epidemiology of melasma and its Impact on the quality of life in Turaif City, Saudi Arabia

Abstract EN

Melasma is a hyperpigmentation disorder of the skin that is more common among females than males.

Pregnant females and those using birth control medications are at a higher risk of developing the disease.

Melasma has an effect on quality of life despite that no specific tool to determine that it has been established.

A total of 235 individuals (138 males and 97 females) attending five randomly selected primary healthcare centers was enrolled for a cross-sectional study carried out in Turaif City in the Northern Borders Province of KSA from January, 2015 to January, 2016.

Subjects were selected using a systemic random sampling procedure.

Each person was interviewed separately; confidentiality was assured.

Subjects within the ages 30-40 years were 34.1%.

Males with post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation were higher than females (58.6% for males & 43.2% for females).

University graduates were significantly affected (54.5%).

Among the subjects, 61.4% were positive for a family history; there was no significant impact on quality of life among the studied population.

This work aims to investigate the prevalence of melasma and determine its impact on quality of life among the studied population.