BACKGROUND: Melasma is a difficult to manage hyperpigmentary disorder affecting facial skin.Studies have suggested the role of Ultraviolet Radiation induced reactive oxygen species leading to increased melanin pigment synthesis.Superoxide dismutase, a potent antioxidant enzyme and Reduced Glutathione, an antioxidant tripeptide act on oxidative pathway to render the reactive oxygen species harmless.Copper is thought to play a key role in melanogenic pathway as cofactor of tyrosinase enzyme.Oral as well as topical antioxidants are being used for the treatment of melasma with substantial evidence for their effectiveness.However the direct evidence is still lacking. METHODS: A case–control study on 75 melasma cases and 75 healthy controls was conducted.Assessment of colour, pattern, type of melasma was done in each case.Superoxide Dismutase (SOD), Reduced Glutathione (GSH) and serum Copper levels were estimated in melasma patients and compared with healthy controls. RESULTS: The subjects ranged from 18–52 years of age with female preponderance (Male: Female = 1:12).Mean duration of the disease was 2.12 years and mean MASI was 15.87±5.81.Mean levels of Serum copper(ug/dl), SOD(units/ml) and GSH(mg%) in cases were 127.79±16.14, 6.10±0.46 and 39.58±4.29 respectively compared to 126.32±14.61, 4.71±0.53 and 55.69±3.95 in controls. CONCLUSION: Statistically, the difference in SOD and GSH levels between melasma cases and controls was found to be significant indicating definitive role of oxidative stress but serum copper levels was non–significant.