All about: Melasma.

• January 24, 2020

Melasma is a skin pigmentation disorder that can appear on the cheekbones, forehead and upper lip. It is common in people of all ethnicities and skin types, more common for women than men.

Often coined the ‘sun mustache’ or ‘pregnancy mask’, melasma appears like dark blotches of skin that become more noticeable in the summer months with more sun exposure. It is not an infection, it is not contagious, and it is not an allergy. It is also not cancerous and will not develop into skin cancer.
While melasma is harmless, these dark patches can be frustrating to live with. Both women and men are starting to grasp that an uneven skin tone can be terribly ageing, and even look worse than fine lines and wrinkles. That’s why Dr. Costi has decided to tackle this problem, especially now in winter when it is the right time to treat it.

What is the difference with Hyperpigmentation?
Melasma is a form of hyper pigmentation.

Hyper pigmentation is the darkening of an area of skin by an overproduction of melanin pigment, which is what gives our skin its color. Hyper pigmentation usually appears as brown spots or patches in the skin, and it can cover entire areas of our face and body.

Melasma hyper pigmentation is generally caused by a hormonal fluctuation or hormonal medication.

What is the main cause of Melasma?
Melasma can have more than one cause: pregnancy, age related hormonal fluctuations, using birth control and also other medical treatments that involve hormones.

Because it can affect the deepest layers of the skin and due to its underlying causes, prevention and treatment are complicated and require professional expertise.

Can you get rid of Melasma?
Of course there are many options for treatment, and Dr. Costi will decide the best way to proceed according to your skin condition.

Creams

Products vary, you can look for creams containing skin-lightening hydroquinone, azelaic acid, kojic acid, and arbutin.

But the best way for a successful treatment will be a combination of products that Dr. Costi will prescribe for you. Given the deep rooted issue and factors to consider, the best approach will be to define a long-term strategy to subdue the active pigment cells as well as remove the excess pigment already in the skin. The treatment to lighten the skin will vary depending on the winter and summer months.

Peels and lasers

Chemical peels and laser skin lightening are the most common in clinic to treat melasma. You can expect a slight burning and tightening of the skin and if your skin is sensitive, you might also notice some itchiness. But you can just apply a hydrating cream and it will make things more comfortable for all skin types.
IPL and lasers are used for more resistant forms of melasma, but are contraindicated for those with darker skin types because of the risk of burns or if the hyperpigmentation is very high.

Maintenance after a treatment

While the best treatment will be a professional procedure at the clinic, there are some general skin care tips to help your skin and maintain your results at home. Look for specialized products like serums and creams that dissolve dead skin cells, increase cellular turnover and unify skin tone.
A very important prevention factor will also be to avoid direct melasma triggers, most importantly sunshine.

Sun protection and avoidance of sun exposure plays one of the biggest roles in the management of hyper pigmentation. This inexpensive form of prevention is the single most effective way to manage hyper pigmentation.
Ask DR. Costi for his recommended sunscreen for outdoor activities or hot weather. It will deflect invisible UV light away from the skin, as well as block visible light. You should also look for makeup that contains sunscreen.
A trick to be perfectly on the safe side, you should keep a wide hat in your car and wear it while driving. A good amount of hyper pigmentation comes from sun and heat exposure during driving.

While there is no true cure, there are steps to take that can help achieve more evenly toned skin. Love yourself, be consistent with your treatment and be patient with results.