Clinical Patterns of Facial Pigmentation

Introduction: Pigmentary disorders of the skin are a great concern to the patient, more so when it involves the face. It is one of the common clinical presentations to the dermatology OPD. Facial pigmentation may be multifactorial and in some etiology may be known by a detailed history. It causes a great deal of psychological, emotional, and in some cases mental distress.

Aim: To study the various clinical types and different patterns of facial pigmentation presentation.

Materials and Methods: A one year study was done in the skin out-patient department in a tertiary hospital. All the patients with pigmentation of face were included in our study after their consent.

Results: A total 102 cases were recorded during this period and the common facial pigmentation noticed was melasma. There was a female preponderance and among few there was a positive family history.

Conclusions: Occurrence of pigmentation of face was more common in females and seen among age group of 21-30 years. Sun exposure, family history and cosmetics were the aetiological factors in most of the cases. Stress and refractive errors were other risk factors in Periorbital pigmentation.