Preprint Article Version 1 Preserved in Portico This version is not peer-reviewed

The Effect of Melasma on the Quality of Life in People with Darker Skin Types Living in Durban, South Africa

Nomakhosi Mpofana
* ,
Michael Paulse
ORCID logo ,
Nceba Gqaleni
,
Mokgadi Ursula Makgobole
,
Pavitra Pillay
ORCID logo ,
Ahmed Hussein
ORCID logo ,
Ncoza Cordelia Dlova
Version 1 : Received: 13 October 2023 / Approved: 13 October 2023 / Online: 16 October 2023 (05:41:39 CEST)

A peer-reviewed article of this Preprint also exists.

Mpofana, N.; Paulse, M.; Gqaleni, N.; Makgobole, M.U.; Pillay, P.; Hussein, A.; Dlova, N.C. The Effect of Melasma on the Quality of Life in People with Darker Skin Types Living in Durban, South Africa. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20, 7068. Mpofana, N.; Paulse, M.; Gqaleni, N.; Makgobole, M.U.; Pillay, P.; Hussein, A.; Dlova, N.C. The Effect of Melasma on the Quality of Life in People with Darker Skin Types Living in Durban, South Africa. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20, 7068.

Abstract

Melasma is a common skin disorder of acquired hyperpigmentation that appears commonly on the face. Although asymptomatic, melasma causes psychosocial and emotional distress. This study aimed to assess melasma's severity on people with darker skin types, evaluate the effects of melasma on the Quality of Life (QoL), and establish QoL predictors in affected individuals. This was a cross-sectional analytic study that enrolled 150 patients who were diagnosed with melasma from three private dermatology clinics in Durban, South Africa. The severity of melasma and QoL were measured using a Melasma Area and Severity Index (MASI) score, and Melasma Quality of Life scale (MELASQoL), respectively. The factors associated with impaired QoL were also explored using the multivariate method and stepwise regression analysis. MASI score of Masi (β = 0.209, t = 2.628, p < .010), involvement of cheeks (β = -0.268, t = -3.405, p <.001), level of education (β = -0.159, t = -2.029, p =.044) and being menopausal (β = -0.161, t = -2.027, p =.045) were found to be predictors of QoL. A regression model to predict MELASQoL given these four predictors was developed. The significance of the equation can allow remote scoring of MELASQoL based on the four variables.

Keywords

Melasma; Pigmentation; Darker skin type; Fitzpatrick skin types IV-VI; Quality of life

Subject

Public Health and Healthcare, Public Health and Health Services

Copyright: This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

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