Skip to content
DraconiticResearch
Search Sources API
197,768 studies31 sourcesUpdated 45 min ago
Peer-reviewedCC BY 4.0Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology

Beyond Pigmentation: Dermoscopic Vascular Patterns Reveal Novel Risk and Protective Factors in Melasma

  • Zhenghui Yang1
  • Jing Wu1
  • Qiuyan Yao1,2
  • Hua Gu1
  • Ying Tu1
  1. 1Department of Dermatology and Venereology First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University Kunming China
  2. 2Baoshan Prefecture Center for Disease Control and Prevention Baoshan City China
Read full textPDFDOICite

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the correlation between the dermoscopic severity of telangiectasia and key pathophysiological features in melasma, and to identify the risk factors associated with vascular pattern severity.

Methods: In this cross‐sectional study, 137 female melasma patients were classified into four vascular types based on dermoscopic evaluation: nonvascular change, erythema, strip‐ or branch‐shaped, and reticular. Comprehensive assessments included noninvasive skin measurements (Melanin Index [MI], Erythema Index [EI]), facial imaging, and detailed questionnaires. Multivariable ordinal logistic and multiple linear regression models were used for analysis.

Results: The severity of the vascular type was significantly correlated with erythema parameters (r = 0.69) and the modified Melasma Area and Severity Index (mMASI). After multivariable adjustment, higher parity (Adjusted Odds Ratio [aOR] = 2.60) and higher Body Mass Index (BMI) (aOR = 1.38) emerged as the strongest independent risk factors for a more severe vascular type. In a separate model for mMASI, MI was the most potent positive predictor (p < 0.001), while intriguingly, erythema area ratio was a significant negative predictor (p = 0.026) after adjusting for MI.

Conclusion: The severity of dermoscopic vascular patterns in melasma is strongly associated with increased erythema and clinical severity. Higher parity and BMI are key independent risk factors for severe telangiectasia. Our findings highlight the crucial role of the vascular component in melasma and suggest that clinical scoring systems may underestimate the contribution of erythema when significant pigmentation is present.

Related

  1. Perceived Multi-Level Diabetes Protective and Risk Factors Associated with Food and Dietary Acculturation Patterns Among East African Immigrants in the United States.
    Habiba Ibrahim, Angela Ekwonye, Salma Ibrahim +4
    Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland)Peer-reviewedCC BYFull textPsychiatry & mental healthEurope PMC
  2. Dermoscopic Patterns in Granulomatous Diseases: A Narrative Review
    Sanjana Sara Sunil, Katarzyna Korecka, Adriana Polańska
    Journal of Clinical MedicinePeer-reviewedCC BY 4.0Full textGeneral medicineCrossrefEurope PMC
  3. Multi-omics identifies PCK1-associated immunometabolic regulation underlying the protective effects of sinomenine in vascular dementia
    Wanling Ren, Zipu Wang, Weisi Yang +4
    Frontiers in PharmacologyPeer-reviewedCC BY 4.0Pharmacology & toxicologyCrossref
  4. MTHFR C677T and Brain MRI Patterns Across Cognitive and Vascular Disorders: A Systematic Review
    Andreea Alexandra Gogu, Any Axelerad, Anca Elena Gogu +3
    BiomedicinesPeer-reviewedCC BYFull textGeneral medicineEurope PMC
  5. Differential risk and protective factors for conventional adenomas and serrated lesions: implications for colorectal cancer prevention
    Junjie Cai, Yiliu Huang, Yi Luo +3
    Frontiers in Public HealthPeer-reviewedCC BY 4.0Full textOncologyCrossrefEurope PMCPMC

Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{yang2026beyond,
  title = {{Beyond Pigmentation: Dermoscopic Vascular Patterns Reveal Novel Risk and Protective Factors in Melasma}},
  author = {Zhenghui Yang and Jing Wu and Qiuyan Yao and Hua Gu and Ying Tu},
  journal = {Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology},
  year = {2026},
  month = oct,
  doi = {10.1111/jocd.71177},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1111/jocd.71177},
  note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Beyond Pigmentation: Dermoscopic Vascular Patterns Reveal Novel Risk and Protective Factors in Melasma
AU  - Zhenghui Yang
AU  - Jing Wu
AU  - Qiuyan Yao
AU  - Hua Gu
AU  - Ying Tu
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/10/25
JO  - Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology
DO  - 10.1111/jocd.71177
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1111/jocd.71177
AB  - Objective: To investigate the correlation between the dermoscopic severity of telangiectasia and key pathophysiological features in melasma, and to identify the risk factors associated with vascular pattern severity.  Methods: In this cross‐sectional study, 137 female melasma patients were classified into four vascular types based on dermoscopic evaluation: nonvascular change, erythema, strip‐ or branch‐shaped, and reticular. Comprehensive assessments included noninvasive skin measurements (Melanin Index [MI], Erythema Index [EI]), facial imaging, and detailed questionnaires. Multivariable ordinal logistic and multiple linear regression models were used for analysis.  Results: The severity of the vascular type was significantly correlated with erythema parameters (r = 0.69) and the modified Melasma Area and Severity Index (mMASI). After multivariable adjustment, higher parity (Adjusted Odds Ratio [aOR] = 2.60) and higher Body Mass Index (BMI) (aOR = 1.38) emerged as the strongest independent risk factors for a more severe vascular type. In a separate model for mMASI, MI was the most potent positive predictor (p < 0.001), while intriguingly, erythema area ratio was a significant negative predictor (p = 0.026) after adjusting for MI.  Conclusion: The severity of dermoscopic vascular patterns in melasma is strongly associated with increased erythema and clinical severity. Higher parity and BMI are key independent risk factors for severe telangiectasia. Our findings highlight the crucial role of the vascular component in melasma and suggest that clinical scoring systems may underestimate the contribution of erythema when significant pigmentation is present.
SN  - 1473-2130
SN  - 1473-2165
ER  -