Melasma is a chronic skin condition of hyperpigmentation, where your skin develops brown patches. The patches tend to have angulated borders, affecting areas such as your face, cheeks, upper lip, forearms, and forehead. Unfortunately, Melasma has no cure as a handful of medications are prescribed to keep this condition at bay.
This condition is often referred to as the ‘mask of pregnancy’ because most Melasma cases are from pregnant women. The severity of the symptom exacerbates during the summer and lessens as you approach the winter season. This condition is generally harmless, but it can cause a lot of damage to your self-esteem and confidence.
A couple of conditions can cause you to develop this disorder:
- Hormonal imbalance
- The use of contraceptives
- Pregnancy
- Genetics – approximately 33% to 50% of the population has reported a family member suffering from Melasma.
- Exposure to sunlight
Moreover, there are three types of Melasma disorder: epidermal, dermal, and mixed Melasma. The epidermal Melasma appears as dark brown patches under the black light, with well-defined borders. The condition is responsive to treatment. Derma melasma condition appears as light brown or bluish patches under the backlight. It has blurry borders, though it’s less responsive to treatment.
Mixed Melasma is another related condition to take note of. It involves a combination of the other three, making it quite severe. Under black light, it appears to have mixed patterns and shows some response to treatment.
Getting rid of Melasma starts by regulating the severity of the symptoms by applying medication to the affected areas. There are several cream medications that you can use—for example, hydroquinone. Getting advice from your dermatologist is essential since the medication requires a supervised prescription. It’s also important to note that certain medications, such as hydroquinone, are harmful to pregnant women.
The skin is one of the largest organs in the body that requires proper care to thrive and grow. Here at https://www.peacemd.com/, we dedicate our time and attention to your health needs. We have a team of professionals in the Medical and cosmetic dermatology team with vast experience. Feel free to call us at Tel:310.645.6001 for this and other skin-related queries.