What is Melasma?
Melasma is a pigmentation disorder that affects many women in the United States. It is also called chloasma or the act of pregnancy because it often appears during pregnancy and fades after giving birth. Melasma can occur in anyone and any age group, but it is most common among women ages 20 to 40. Because melasma occurs when the skin becomes too dark, it may be hard to diagnose at first. But once you come to know what to look for and how to deal with it, you can take steps to lighten and prevent your melasma. In this article, we will discuss melasma causes symptoms treatment.
Melasma Causes Symptoms Treatment
Causes
It’s one of the most typical skin conditions we see, and even though it affects millions of people every year, it’s still not well understood. Melasma has many different causes, and it can look different for everyone, depending on your particular situation. It typically appears more often in women than men, but everyone susceptible to it can develop this condition. The leading cause of melasma is exposure to the sun, which makes sense when considering that it’s due to the cause of excess pigmentation in the skin.
Melasma Symptoms
The melasma symptoms are brown patches on the face, neck, chest, and arms that become darker when exposed to sunlight and fade with time in the shade. These patches usually appear on areas with most sun exposure — the cheeks, forehead, upper lip, nose, and chin. In rare cases, melasma appears as slightly discolored areas across large body portions such as arms or legs.
Treatment
There are different tips and tricks you can treat your melasma, depending on how much it has affected your skin and whether or not you want it to be entirely removed or just reduced in appearance. Some of these options include:
Topical Creams: These are the most common form of treatment because they are easy to apply and safe for most people. They contain ingredients such as azelaic acid, kojic acid, and hydroquinone that fade the appearance of melasma.
Microdermabrasion and Chemical Peels: Treatments for melasma use exfoliation methods to help improve the appearance of dark patches by removing skin layers. While microdermabrasion is a non-invasive treatment, chemical peels may require anesthesia or a local anesthetic.
Laser Treatment: The most effective way to remove or reduce the appearance of melasma is through laser treatment, which uses intense light energy to destroy melanin-producing cells in the top layers of your skin. Laser treatment requires multiple sessions with a skilled professional and will leave you with redness and swelling for a few days after each session, but it can provide dramatic results.
In some cases, your doctor may recommend that you combine two or more of these treatments.
Retinoids: Retinoids are vitamin A derivatives that can be prescribed by your dermatologist or general practitioner and are often found in over-the-counter products such as Differin or Retin-A Micro. When used correctly (as directed), retinoids can help fade melasma and reduce acne breakouts.
Iontophoresis: This is a way of using electrical current to treat your skin with chemical peels and other substances that would not usually penetrate the skin without this treatment.
Light therapy: This is a way of treating your melasma with light that helps fade pigment without causing additional damage to your skin.