Melasma is a condition
where the skin in the face appears as patchy brown, tan, or blue- gray. It
commonly shows in the forehead, chin, upper cheeks and upper lip and
affects women more than men.
Aside from sun
exposure, melasma treatment can also be due to intake of external hormones
such as birth control pills and hormonal changes in pregnant women.
Women who have olive
or darker skin particularly of Asian and Hispanic origins are at greater
risk to developing melasma.Dermatologists usually diagnose melasma using a
device called Wood’s light, which is done to determine how deep it
penetrates the skin. But to make sure the condition is really melasma and
not other skin problem, dermatologists remove a small skin as sample for a
biopsy.If melasma is caused by pregnancy, doctors say it will fade on its own
after the woman delivers her baby. If it is caused by birth control pills,
it will also fade if the woman stops taking the pills.For women who are
suffering from the type of melasma that doesn’t fade away naturally, there
are available treatments and medicines that dermatologists recommend, some
of which can be bought over the counter. One of the most common medicines
that dermatologists recommend for women with melasma is Hydroquinone,
which comes in the form of a gel, lotion, liquid or cream. It is applied
directly on the skin and works by lightening the skin.Other medicines that are
commonly prescribed to treat melasma are those that contain Tretinoin and
Corticosteroids to enhance skin lightening.Sometimes, doctors prescribe creams
that contain both Hydroquinone, Tretinoin and Corticosteroid.Some patients
are also given topical medicines that contain azelaic acid or kojic acid, which
also work to lighten the skin.If melasma persists, dermatologists resort to
procedures such as dermabrasion, microdermabrasion and chemical peel,
depending on the patient’s type of skin.But dermatologists warn that melasma is
stubborn and it would take a few months of treatment before it would
eventually fade away. Once it fades, the patient needs to strictly follow
a maintenance therapy to prevent it from returning.
Women who undergo
treatment for melasma should watch signs of any side effects like skin
irritation, darkening of the skin and other problems. Once these signs are
present, the patient should immediately inform their dermatologist.
Doctors recommend that
to prevent getting melasma or to prevent it from returning, women should
use products with sunscreen and if possible, wear a wide-brimmed hat to
protect the face from the sun.
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