Skin Clinic :What On Earth Is Melasma?
Skin Clinic :What on earth is Melasma?
Although it can certainly appear scary, melasma is a very common and cosmetic skin reaction that creates brown, irregular sections on the face and neck.
Melasma is prompted through a combo of lengthy periods of sun exposure and female hormone imbalances, which is why it is also referred to as “chloasma faciel,” or “face of pregnancy.” With these 2 issues simultaneously, melanin-generating cells (which are in charge of skin color) go into overdrive, which causes skin to be more dark than it should in patches.
In addition to pregnancy and genetic factors, melasma might be initiated by contraceptives, hormone replacement therapy, skin irritation, hair waxing, thyroid disorders, and abnormal stress levels. Also, certain prescription drugs such as tetracycline and quinine may cause melanin production.
The most effective way to prevent melasma, or keep it from getting worse, is to protect the dermis from the sun. Stay out of the sun as much as possible, and if you do stay outside long, wear protective clothing and a hat, and be sure to use sun screen every day to prevent UV damage. For additional protection, find a sunscreen that contains physical blockers like zinc dioxide and titanium dioxide, with an SPF of no less than 30.
For many pregnant women, melasma can disappear by itself after child birth. Some times it can persist for several months, or even years, before vanishing.
Although there isn’t a true cure for melasma, there are many ways to reduce the look of it by lightening the dark sections with time.
One of the most popular options is to use a hydroquinone-based chemical peel, which, after treatment, can penetrate into the layers of the skin to reduce dark discoloration and prevent it from getting worse.
Superficial peels with alpha hydroxyacids or glycolic acid can also help, albeit with several more treatments than a hydroquinone chemical peel would need. The tradeoff is that superficial peels have a much quicker recovery time. Both of these options are available without a precription.
Treatments with a Fraxel laser or laser therapy may be a more dramatic and expensive option, but may provide better results in some cases. Be sure to consult a qualified and experienced doctor for any laser treatment.
For anybody who is thinking about figuring out exactly what cosmetic dermatologists and other medical doctors leading laser clinics think of the latest Intense pulsed light (IPL) and skin fractionated laser out of Palomar, Sciton, Solta, Alma, Cutera, Candela, Cynosure, Lumenis, Syneron , as well as treatment options such as Thermage skin tightening, Slim Lipo, Botox, mesotherapy and IPL laser hair removal, remember to view the cosmetic laser community forums on Medical Spa MD, a group of physicians in aesthetic medicine.