Frequency of Iron Deficiency Anemia, Folate and Vitamin B12 Deficiency in Patients with Melasma

Melasma is a brown hyperpigmentation that involves face and neck of women. The aim of this study was to investigate the Iron deficiency anemia, folate and Vitamin B12 deficiency among these patients. In a cross-sectional descriptive study 70 females who were diagnosed with melasma were included and Hemoglobin, Hematocrit, Serum Iron and Ferritin Levels, Folate and VitB12 were measured in all of them. Mean age of patients was 33.42±7.35. Family history of melasma was positive in 30% of them. Abnormal Uterine Bleeding (AUB) was reported in 40%. The recruits had mean hemoglobin level of 11.2±1.63 g/dl. (14.3%) had low serum iron levels 8/6% of patients abnormal ferritin levels. Low levels of serum folate and serum Vitamin B12 were observed in 3 patients and 1 patient succedingly. This preliminary study showed that prevalence of Iron deficiency and float and vitamin B12 deficiency among a group of patient with melasma but larger studies with control group are needed.