A dermatologist uses a Wood's lamp to examine a patient with facial hyperpigmentation. The lesions show marked accentuation under the Wood's lamp. This finding is most consistent with which type of melasma?

Explanation

Wood's lamp examination helps differentiate between epidermal and dermal melasma. Melanin in the epidermis absorbs UV light and fluoresces, causing epidermal lesions to appear more prominent and darker (accentuated) under the Wood's lamp. In contrast, melanin in the dermis does not absorb UV light as effectively and therefore does not show significant accentuation, or may even appear less distinct. Mixed melasma would show some areas of accentuation and some without. Indeterminate melasma refers to cases where Wood's lamp findings are unclear.