Diethylstilbestrol/Artificial Estrogen
The connection between melasma and estrogen continues with the addition of diethylstilbestrol (or man-made estrogen) to the list of melasma causes. There are various reasons why anyone would need synthetic estrogen, particularly to help treat prostate cancer—some of the men who are given estrogen end up with melasma as a side effect. Aside from the sun’s radiation, hormones such as estrogen tend to be at the top of the list of melasma causes. Pregnant women are affected due to the surplus of estrogen that comes from the process of growing a baby in the womb. It’s not something that people can avoid, but there are, thankfully, some ways to help make the melasma fade.
Typically, men who are affected by melasma from estrogen treatments will have the skin disorder fade after they stop using estrogen as a treatment. It’s much the same way pregnant women lose the so-called mask of pregnancy when they finally give birth. One interesting thing about melasma is while it causes dark patches of skin, it’s the only symptom. It doesn’t hurt, and it doesn’t itch. Melasma is only uncomfortable for those who are self-conscious due to the change in skin color.
