VEGF elevation has also been hypothesized to contribute to the increased vascularity found in melasma‐affected skin [19] Overexpression of nitric oxide, a powerful vasodilator that has been detected at the dermal–epidermal junction, is also believed to stimulate tyrosinase activity and enhance vascularity in melasma‐affected skin [16]. This evidence concerns the gene TYR and freckles.