Melasma

Melasma is a disease of skin discoloration of face. It is also called by mask of pregnancy or chloasma.

It is defined as dark discoloration of skin, which is found on areas of the face that are exposed to sunrays.

This skin disease affects everyone; women are most affected by melasma as compared to men. This disease is most often developed with progesterone, female hormones and estrogen.

Young women who have brownish skin tones are at high risk of getting melasma.

It is common in women who have taken hormone replacement therapy while menopause and women who are taken oral contraceptives during pregnancy. Excessive exposure to sun is also the main risk factor of melasma.

Causes of Melasma

The main cause of this skin disorder is sun exposure. In some cases, it is developed from genetic factors, certain medications, and lack of nutritional and hepatic dysfunction.

Signs and Symptoms of melasma

The major symptom of this skin disease is skin discoloration. People can see it on the upper lip, nose, cheeks and forehead in brown color. Melasma appears on the skin’s surface as dark or irregular patches.

Diagnosis

Health care providers are diagnosed melasma by the appearance of discoloration of skin. Wood’s lamp is used to determining the melasma. The health care providers are also used examination of skin and skin biopsy to detect melasma.

Treatment

There are many method to remove this skin disorders. These methods are depended on the signs and symptoms of melasma. One who are affected by melasma, should use the following ways to treat melasma:

• Laser treatment is very effective for removing the skin discoloration.
• One should use sunscreen creams or lotions with SPF before going outside during the daytime regularly.
• Using a bleaching cream including hydroquinone contains tretinoin cream, may reduce the melasma from the surface of the skin.
• Avoid excessive exposure to the Ultraviolet rays for long term period.
• Always use mild cleanser or soaps that does not contain any harmful ingredients for wash off the face.
• Use bleaching creams on the portion of skin that are affected by melasma for about six months.
• Camouflage cosmetics are also very effective to treat melasma
• One, who is suffered from melasma, should use sunblock creams or lotions with SPF-30.
• Fruit cream or tretinoin cream that contain fruit acid, lactic acid and glycolic acid are also effective to reduce this skin disorder.
• Do not use creams, facial cleansers, makeup and lotions on the face as they may irritate the surface of skin.
• Retin-A cream is also the best option to treat melasma. It should be used on the affected area at night.
• In some cases, chemical peels, laser surgery or Microdermabrasion are also used for removing melasma.