Pandya et al modified the Melasma Area and Severity Index (MASI) to make it simpler. This can be used to monitor the patient over time and to evaluate the response to therapy. The authors are from multiple institutions in the United States and France.
Patient selection: melasma
Parameters:
(1) region of face as fraction of total facial skin area
(2) percent of portion showing melasma (scored from 0 to 6)
(3) darkness (scored from 0 to 4)
(4) homogeneity (scored from 0 to 4)
Region of Face
Fraction of Facial Area
forehead
0.3
right malar
0.3
left malar
0.3
chin
0.1
Parameter
Finding
Points
percent
0%
0
1 to 9%
1
10 to 29%
2
30 to 49%
3
50 to 69%
4
70 to 89%
5
90-100%
6
darkness
absent/none
0
slight
1
mild
2
moderate/marked
3
maximum
4
subscore =
= (fraction of total area) * (points for percent) * (points for darkness)
total score = SUM(subscore for 4 zones)
Interpretation:
• minimum mMASI: 0
• maximum mMASI: 24
• The higher the mMASI the more severe the melasma.
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