Relationship of iron deficiency anaemia and thyroid abnormalities with melasma in females: a hospital based descriptive study

Background: Melasma is a common cause of acquired and localised facial hypermelanosis primarily affecting females. Its association with iron deficiency anaemia and thyroid abnormalities has been studied in the past with inconsistent resultsin various studies. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship of Iron deficiency anaemia and thyroid abnormalities with melasma in females and to compare it with severity of melasma (MASI). It was a hospital based descriptive study conducted in a tertiary care of North India. Methods: Data was collected from one hundred fifteen on pregnant females of melasma presenting to the OPD. Investigations including Hb, serum ferritinand TSH was done. Results: The mean age at presentation was 31 years. Anaemia was present in 29% cases of melasma with mean Hb level of 10.9 g/dL. Mean serum ferritin level was 21.3 ng/ ml. Mean TSH was 2.75 mIU/ml and was in normal range in over 96% of the patients. Conclusions: Iron deficiency anaemia was found to be associated with Melasma and showed a direct correlation with severity of melasma however thyroid dysfunction (TSH) showed no association with melasma in our study.