Medical management of melasma: A review with consensus recommendations by Indian pigmentary expert group

Rashmi Sarkar, Narendra Gokhale, Kiran Godse, Pallavi Ailawadi, Latika Arya, Nilendu Sarma, RG Torsekar, VK Somani, Pooja Arora, Imran Majid, G Ravichandran, Mohan Singh, Sanjeev Aurangabadkar, Shehnaz Arsiwala, Sidharth Sonthalia, T Salim, Swapnil Shah

Indian Journal of Dermatology 2017 62(6):450-469

Melasma is one of the most common hyperpigmentary disorders found mainly in women and dark-skinned patients. Sunlight, hormones, pregnancy, and genetics remain the most implicated in the causation of melasma. Although rather recalcitrant to treatment, topical agents such as hydroquinone, modified Kligman's Regime, azelaic acid, kojic acid, Vitamin C, and arbutin still remain the mainstay of therapy with sun protection being a cornerstone of therapy. There are several new botanical and non botanical agents and upcoming oral therapies for the future. There is a lack of therapeutic guidelines, more so in the Indian setup. The article discusses available evidence and brings forward a suggested treatment algorithm by experts from Pigmentary Disorders Society (PDS) in a collaborative discussion called South Asian Pigmentary Forum (SPF).