Is melasma related to thyroid

Good afternoon Dr Lupo


For the past 2 months I have light brown patches on my cheeks , this is new from this year . I always went to the sun or tanning and never had any trouble ,it seems to be melasma.My TSH was low last summer , and was rechecked x 2 after that and I know my antibodies were slightly elevated, I will get my  TSH level  to be recheck next month ,; my MD thought  I might end up with hypothryoidism  ,my TSH level went from .07  .1 and  1.5  in 5 months I'm 51 , I might be  in menopause but I don't know because I do not have any symptoms( my period stopped 5 years ago because I had surgery ( ablation) .Can melasma be related because of my age ( close or being in menopause,I do not take any hormones) or I read that it could be a sign that you have trouble with your thyroid.If your antibodies are slightly elevated and your TSH level start to increase does it mean you have Hashimoto


Thank you for your help

Jamuella

[Mark Lupo, M.D.]

You probably had a transient silent thyroiditis which caused the abnormal TSH levels then the normalization.  This is an autoimmune thyroiditis but most people recover fully.  There may be future risk for hypothyroidism, so keep an eye on TSH 1-2x/year.  Don't know of any connection w/ melasma.