Prevalence of melasma, quality-of-life impact and social stigmatization

Melasma is a common pigmentary disorder that can substantially affect a patient’s quality of life and social experiences. Using data from the multinational International Survey on Pigmentation Disorders Observational Tracking of 48 000 participants in 34 countries, we found that 11% reported melasma, with marked regional differences, a mean Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) of 8.4 and more than one-third having DLQI scores above 10. Over half of affected individuals reported concealing visible lesions and one-third avoided public contact, highlighting a significant yet often under-recognized burden of stigmatization.