The comparison between free thyroxine and thyroid-stimulating hormone levels on melasma severity: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Melasma has been suspected to be linked with levels of thyroid hormone. There is no study that explains the association between thyroid hormone levels with melasma severity. AIM: This study aims to find the discrepancies in the levels of thyroid hormone in varying severity of melasma using two different measurement techniques. METHODS: Subjects were chosen consecutively from the dermatology clinic at RSUPN Dr. Cipto Mangunkusumo hospital. Forty-eight patients participated in this study were categorized into mild melasma and moderate-severe melasma based on modified melasma area and severity index (mMASI) and Janus II measurement. RESULTS: Statistically, mMASI measurement showed no significant association between varying melasma severity with levels of thyroid stimulating hormone and free T4 (FT4), p = 0.375 and p = 0.208, respectively. The Janus II examination using polarized light modality has a weak positive correlation with the serum FT4 level (r = 0.3; p = 0.039). Weak correlation was also found between the two measurement strategies, Janus II and mMASI (r = 0.314; p = 0.03). CONCLUSION: There are no significant differences observed in levels of thyroid hormone between subjects with varying degrees of melasma severity.