Melasma is a common skin issue that causes light to dark brown or grey pigmentation patches on one's face. It mostly affects the areas which are exposed to the sun. The condition is not contagious or connected to allergies but can affect one's look, appearance, and confidence.
The dark melasma patches on the face can appear due to many reasons. Dermatologists can effectively treat melasma by diagnosing the root cause and state of the art dermatology treatments. In this post, everything about melasma and methods for melasma treatment in Bangalore by dermatologists are discussed.
What is Melasma?
Melasma is a common skin pigmentation irregularity, typically showing up as skin discoloration on the face. This skin condition can affect people of all genders and races. It is common in people with darker skin tone and who belong to the age group of 20 and 40 years.
Melasma pigmentation patches often appear as irregular, dark patches that are kind of symmetrically spread on the skin. The condition commonly affects the sun-exposed areas of the body and worses with excessive sun exposure.
Causes of Melasma
As per skin experts, there are three primary melasma causes:
- Hormonal disturbances- Hormonal changes and melasma are very common in pregnant women. Dermatologists refer to the dark patches that appear on the face in pregnancy as the chloasma- “the mask of pregnancy”. Others who are taking hormone replacement therapy or hormone-based medications like oral contraceptives also have melasma. Melasma can even be caused by high corti-sol hormone levels when one is stressed.
- Sun exposure- Over or prolonged, direct exposure of the skin to UV radiation from the sun can increase melanin production, contributing to melasma.
- Heredity- Some people are prone to have melasma due to dark skin tone or a close relative having the same condition.
Melasma on Face: Understanding the Condition
Dark patches on the face can crop up on the following combination sites:
- Centro facial region- the forehead, chin, cheeks, and upper lip
- Malar- Nose and cheeks
- Mandibular- on the jawline
- Lateral cheek pattern- on cheeks.
The melasma on the face can be present in three ways. Following are the three types of melasma-
- Epidermal melasma- Uniformly shaped, dark brown patches appear on the face, affecting only the superficial skin.
- Dermal melasma- Bluish-gray or grayish brown, blurry bordered patches appear on the face, affecting the dermis- deeper skin layers.
- Mixed melasma- This is a combination of epidermal and dermal melasma most commonly seen on the face.
Prevention of Melasma
To prevent melasma, one needs:
- Proper sun protection- Daily wear sunscreen of SPF minimum 30 above and sun-protective clothing whenever going outdoors in the daytime.
- Hormonal management- If a female, consult a doctor for oral contraceptives or hormone therapies; consult a doctor before conception; and if anyone experiencing hormonal shifts consult an endocrinologist or OBS/GYN.
- A healthy lifestyle- Eat nutritious meals, stay hydrated, and be stress-free.
- Skincare for pigmentation- This includes the use of skin-lightening products containing Vitamin C, niacin-amide, alpha arbut-in, or Kojic acid.
Effective Treatments for Melasma
Melasma treatment helps in managing facial pigmentation. The best treatment for melasma on the face is decided by the best dermatologist as per its type and severity.
The effective treatment options include:
Medications, creams, and injections
The dark skin patches can be avoided or reduced with dermatologist-recommended products containing hydroq-uinone, aze-laic acid, hydroco-rtisone, cyst-eamine, treti-noin, alpha-hydroxy acid, or tranex-amic acid.
Dermatological procedures for Melasma
When medications or topical treatments are a failure, dermatologists recommend the following procedures:
- Laser therapy- Lasers are the primary choice for treating melasma. They emit intense light, which when focussed on the dark patches, causes precise, thermal destruction of the extra melanin pigments while promoting fresh collagen growth in the skin. This helps reduce or erase the skin discoloration after a few successive sessions.
- Chemical peeling- Dermatologists apply an acid solution of strength as per the type/depth of melasma to remove the pigmented skin layers and reveal fresh, healthy, evenly toned skin.
- Microneedling- This treatment involves the creation of micro-punctures or tears in the pigmented skin using multiple microneedles. As these micro-injuries heal, the skin gets evenly toned.
- P-R-P therapy- In this treatment, the patient’s blood is collected using a sterile syringe and centrifuged to separate the plat-elet-enriched plas-ma (P-R-P) which is then injected into the melasma patches. The P-R-P contains natural growth factors that aid in skin healing and evening out skin tone.
FAQs on Melasma Treatment
Can Melasma Be Permanently Treated?
Melasma is caused by various factors like aging, hormonal imbalance, sun exposure, and pregnancy, and with dermatology treatments like lasers, chemical peels, GFC, microneedling, consistent skincare, and sun protection, one can achieve smoother, spotless skin.
Is Laser Treatment Safe for Melasma?
Yes, laser treatment is considered safe for people experiencing melasma. But for the best outcomes, one must get this treatment done by skin professionals. Combining lasers with topical treatments and sun protection ensures better outcomes.
How Can I Prevent Melasma from Worsening?
One must apply sunscreen daily with more than SPF 50, wear protective clothing to protect the skin and face from sun damage, take the help of a dermatologist at the initial stages of melasma, and follow a recommended skincare routine and eat an antioxidant-rich diet to prevent their melasma from worsening.
What is the Best Treatment for Melasma on the Face?
The treatment for melasma is decided based on one's skin condition and the severity of the condition. Treatment may include anti-melasma peels, lasers, and creams containing anti-melasma agents. Treatments are tailored to individual skin needs for the best outcomes.
Melasma can affect anyone and with dermatological procedures, one can achieve healthy, glowing skin. One can visit Dr. Dixit Cosmetic Dermatology Clinic to achieve glowing skin with the best melasma removal treatment in Bangalore!
