Melasma

What are the symptoms of melasma?

Melasma is a common skin condition that causes discolored blotches on your facial skin and occasionally on other areas of skin. These patches tend to be irregular in their shapes but relatively symmetrical across your face. They’re darker than your natural skin tone. 

While melasma can cause some dryness and flaking, it doesn’t cause itching or discomfort. You can conceal some of the discoloration with makeup, but due to the changes to your appearance, you may be interested in pursuing professional treatment. It’s also possible for melasma to go away on its own. 

What causes melasma?

The majority of people who get melasma are women who are pregnant or on birth control pills. It’s common nickname is “the mask of pregnancy.” 

Despite this clear trend, experts still don’t fully understand what causes melasma. They suspect it happens because of overactive melanocytes, which are the cells in your skin that produce pigment. This overactivity may be triggered by:

• Pregnancy, increased cortisol, and other hormone activity
• Sunlight or artificial ultraviolet (UV) light exposure
• Specific medications
• Stress

You’re more likely to develop melasma in response to triggers like these if you have family members with the condition or if you have a medium-to-dark skin tone. 

What are the treatments for melasma?

Skin Care Specialists offers the latest evidence-based melasma treatments to reduce your skin’s discoloration. The team creates a customized treatment plan for you based on your symptoms and medical history, which might involve one or more of the following strategies:

Topical products

Topical medications containing retinoids, corticosteroids, or hydroquinone can lighten patches of melasma. 

Chemical peels

A chemical peel is a cosmetic skin resurfacing procedure that uses a chemical solution to exfoliate your skin. This procedure may reduce excessive skin discoloration from melasma and other causes. 

Laser therapy

Cosmetic laser therapy and other light-based procedures may intensify the effectiveness of topical medications for melasma and lighten skin discoloration. 

Lifestyle modifications

Modifying your lifestyle in strategic ways may help lighten the discolored patches of skin. Wearing sunscreen, avoiding tanning beds, and using gentle skin care products can all improve melasma alongside professional treatments. 

Call Skin Care Specialists or schedule an appointment online for expert skin evaluations and melasma treatment today.