Association of Genetic Polymorphisms in SLC45A2, TYR, HERC2, and SLC24A in African Women with Melasma: A Pilot Study

Melasma is a chronic skin disorder characterized by hyperpigmentation, predominantly affecting women with darker skin types, including those of African descent. This study investigates the association between genetic variants in <i>SLC45A2</i>, <i>TYR</i>, <i>HERC2</i>, and <i>SLC24A5</i> genes and the severity of melasma in women of reproductive age. Forty participants were divided into two groups: twenty with facial melasma and twenty without. Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) was extracted from blood samples and genotyped using TaqMan assays to identify allele frequencies and genotype distributions. Significant associations were observed for the <i>TYR</i> gene (rs1042602), <i>HERC2</i> gene (rs1129038), and <i>SLC24A5</i> gene (rs1426654) polymorphisms, highlighting their potential roles in melasma susceptibility. For example, the rs1042602 Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNP) in the <i>TYR</i> gene showed a strong association with melasma, with the AA genotype conferring a markedly increased risk. Similarly, the rs1129038 SNP in the <i>HERC2</i> gene and the rs1426654 SNP in the <i>SLC24A5</i> gene revealed significant genetic variations between groups in women of African descent. These findings underscore the influence of genetic polymorphisms on melasma's pathogenesis, emphasizing the need for personalized approaches to its treatment, particularly for women with darker skin types.