Chloasma, oral contraceptives, and plasma immunoreactive β melanocyte stimulating hormone

Abstract

Plasma immunoreactive β melanocyte stimulating hormone (β MSH) has been measured in patients taking a progestogen only oral contraceptive and in patients taking combined estrogen protestogen therapy, of whom some had chloasma. Plasma levels did not differ significantly from those in a group of age and sex matched controls. It is concluded that the pigmentation of chloasma is not due to increased plasma concentrations of immunoreactive β MSH.