Evidence map›Paper›PMID 37998299›Full record

ArticleInternational journal of environmental research and public health2023

The Effect of Melasma on the Quality of Life in People with Darker Skin Types Living in Durban, South Africa.

Nomakhosi Mpofana, Michael Paulse, Nceba Gqaleni, Mokgadi Ursula Makgobole, Pavitra Pillay, Ahmed Hussein, Ncoza Cordelia Dlova

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in International journal of environmental research and public health, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 12 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
12citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
2.9field-weighted citation impact, top 9% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

12 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 14 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Menopause and Common Dermatoses: A Systematic Review.American journal of clinical dermatology · 2026
    Pooled it
  2. Trial
  3. Article
  4. Article
  5. Article
  6. Review
  7. Review
  8. Review
  9. Article
  10. Sunscreens in pigmentary disorders: time to revise the message.Photochemical & photobiological sciences : Official journal of the European Photochemistry Association and the European Society for Photobiology · 2025
    Article
  11. Article
  12. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors at 3 institutions in 1 country.

Nomakhosi MpofanaDermatology Department, Nelson R. Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban 4000, South Africa.ORCID 0000-0002-3007-1147
Michael PaulseFaculty of Health and Wellness Sciences, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Cape Town 8000, South Africa.ORCID 0000-0002-7233-1226
Nceba GqaleniDiscipline of Traditional Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban 4000, South Africa.
Mokgadi Ursula MakgoboleDepartment of Somatology, Durban University of Technology, Durban 4000, South Africa.ORCID 0000-0001-6530-7079
Pavitra PillayDepartment of Biomedical and Clinical Technology, Durban University of Technology, Durban 4000, South Africa.ORCID 0000-0001-9414-3384
Ahmed HusseinDepartment of Chemistry, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Cape Town 8000, South Africa.ORCID 0000-0002-3877-9959
Ncoza Cordelia DlovaDermatology Department, Nelson R. Mandela School of Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban 4000, South Africa.
Durban University of Technology · ZACape Peninsula University of Technology · ZAUniversity of KwaZulu-Natal · ZA

Funding

National Research Foundation 138179
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Melasma is a common skin disorder of acquired hyperpigmentation that appears commonly on the face. Although asymptomatic, melasma causes psychosocial and emotional distress. This study aimed to assess melasma's severity on people with darker skin types, evaluate the effects of melasma on the quality of life (QoL), and establish QoL predictors in affected individuals. This was a cross-sectional analytic study that enrolled 150 patients from three private dermatology clinics in Durban, South Africa who were diagnosed with melasma. The severity of melasma alongside QoL were measured using a melasma area and severity index (MASI) score and melasma quality of life scale (MELASQoL), respectively. The associations among factors and QoL were explored using multivariable methods and stepwise regression analysis.

Indexed as

MelanosisQuality of LifeCross-Sectional StudiesEmotionsFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedSouth Africadarker skin typeFitzpatrick skin types IV–VImelasmapigmentationquality of life

Identifiers

PMID37998299
PMCPMC10671852
OpenAlexW4388734706

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.