If you notice brown patches in your face, forehead, neck, and forearms, it could be melasma. It is a common and annoying skin condition among Americans.
A study by the American Academy of Dermatology, 90 percent of people with melasma is women. Unfortunately, many people, who develop this skin condition, do not have a clue about melisma. Even when they realize, they often tend to ignore it, or undergo wrong treatment and intensify the issue.
You will be relieved to know that melasma is not a severe skin issue. However, it can affect your appearance; can shake up your confidence, and cause stress.
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Causes of Melasma
Doctors still have not concluded about the causes of melasma. According to them, it happens when the cells in the skin overproduce color. As mentioned earlier, it is a common skin condition among young women due to the female hormones estrogen and progesterone. Nearly 6 million women in the US are struggling with this condition.
The pigmentation starts appearing when there is a high level of sensitivity related to the circulation of estrogen levels in the blood.
Women have higher chances of developing melasma due to the following reasons:
Undergoing hormone replacement therapy;
Taking birth control pills regularly;
Women who are pregnant. Melasma often occurs during pregnancy and is also called the “mask of pregnancy.”
Besides, going out in the sun for too long and too frequently often also increases the risk of developing this skin condition. This is why melasma is common among people who live in tropical climates.
Symptoms of Melasma
Right now, the only known symptom of melasma is changing skin color. Also, brown patches appear in different parts of the body. Even though these patches are not painful or itchy, they can spoil your appearance. Usually, the patches have an even brown color and are symmetrical, and tend to appear on the cheeks, jawline, chin, forehead, upper lip, or nose.
Protect Your Skin from UV Rays to Prevent Melasma
You may have always loved going out in the sun and love your tan. You are not alone, though. Even during the lockdown, many people are thronging the beaches to get a tan. However, remember that UV rays are particularly harsh during summer. Too much exposure to sunlight can damage skin cells and cause melasma.
When going out, use a good quality sunscreen with at least SPF30 to protect your skin from potential damages. Both Ultraviolet A (UVA) and Ultraviolet B (UVB) rays can accelerate the aging of your skin. Also, use a cap or wide-brimmed hat to shield yourself from direct sunlight. Even relatively low levels of UV light can trigger melanocytes and increase the risk of developing melasma.
Get Advanced Treatment for Melasma!
As of now, there is no permanent cure for melasma. Many women tend to use over-the-counter medicines with brightening ingredients such as Arbutin and Kojic acid. However, these medicines will work only in the early stages of melasma. Only a skin specialist or an aesthetic skincare expert can treat the condition in the advanced stages.
Skin specialists proceed with caution when it comes to melasma treatment because many patients with darker skin tone often have pigmentation. Also, older forms of laser treatment are only feasible for melasma patients with lighter skin tones because they have fewer chances of developing hyperpigmentation.
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The latest and most advanced form of laser technologies can treat melasma effectively. It is a non-surgical and non-invasive procedure, and after 8 to 10 sessions, your skin is likely to show a 75-80 percent improvement.
Our aesthetic skin care clinic can provide you with highly effective melasma treatment if you live in and around California
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