Melasma is a common pigmentation disorder that causes brown or gray patches to appear on the skin, primarily on the face.The most common areas for melasma to appear on the face include:

• the bridge of the nose
• the forehead
• the cheeks
• the upper lip

Melasma may also appear on other areas of the body, especially those exposed to a lot of sunlight. These areas may include:

• the forearms
• the neck
• the shoulders