Melasma And Other Skin Manifestations Of Oral Contraceptives
January 1967
in “
PubMed
”
New to Hydroquinone? There is a guide in the encyclopedia. Read the guide → Studysummary This research reports that oral contraceptives may cause melasma in 24-29% of users, with minimal improvement after stopping the drug and limited effectiveness of hydroquinone treatment. Our plain-language summary of this paper — not a Tressless recommendation.
The document discussed the skin changes caused by oral contraceptives, focusing on melasma, a blotchy hyperpigmentation of the face. In a study of 199 patients, 24% developed melasma, while another study of 212 patients showed a 29% incidence. Melasma often appeared 1-4 months after starting the pill and showed minimal improvement even after stopping the drug. Other skin issues included acne, alopecia, aphthous stomatitis, and erythema nodosum. Reducing sunlight exposure and using hydroquinone cream provided slight improvement, while changing the type of pill had little effect. Reducing progesterone might help.
