A Melanosis of the Face ("Chloasma")

A distinctive type of hyperpigmentation, predominantly of the face, has been encountered during the past 2 years with increasing frequency. It is also characterized by a similarity in all patients of the history, of the clinical and laboratory findings, and of the course. The apparently rising incidence of this syndrome, its persistent nature and the anxiety provoked in most patients have provided a stimulus to examine carefully its features for the purpose of eliciting a better understanding of its pathogenesis. It is the purpose of this paper, therefore, to present the clinical data and findings of a series of 15 patients upon a background of pertinent literature, together with preliminary experimental data directed towards eliciting its etiology.

Clinical Findings

Description.—

The dyschromia is characterized by the insidious development of a blotchy hyperpigmentation of the face in essentially healthy adult women predominantly, although one man is included in this series (Table