STAMBP and freckles: The upper dermis and basement membrane are heavily damaged in melasma skin, compared to adjacent healthy, photoexposed skin and photoprotected skin.1, 14 Moreover, estrogen, α-MSH, and HGF stimulate melanogenesis by directly binding to the melanocyte receptor and are also released during the wound healing process.21, 22 These findings indicate that the chromic and unsuccessful upper dermis repair process can induce melanogenesis in melasma.