Melasma causes patches of hyperpigmentation on the skin. It’s a common skin condition, but it can have a significant impact on how you see yourself and how others see you. At Vibrant Dermatology, we believe that by explaining melasma and its causes and symptoms, we can help you find the right treatments and achieve healthier skin.
Melasma is a type of hyperpigmentation that causes brown or grayish-brown patches to form on the skin. Usually, melasma appears in areas commonly exposed to the sun, such as:
However, melasma can also occur in other areas of the body that are frequently exposed to the sun. The exact causes of melasma remain unknown, but researchers have identified several factors that seem to contribute to its development.
Sun exposure is the foremost contributor to melasma. Ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun stimulate the pigment-producing cells in your skin, melanocytes. This stimulation can cause melasma to develop. Melasma due to sun exposure is especially common in people who are genetically predisposed to it or who have medium skin tones.
Hormonal fluctuations also seem to play a significant role, which is why melasma is more common in women who are pregnant, taking contraceptives, or undergoing hormone replacement therapy. Aside from sun exposure and hormones, other potential triggers seem to include certain skincare products and medications that make the skin more sensitive to the sun.
The primary symptom of melasma is discolored patches of skin. These patches tend to be darker than the surrounding skin and have an irregular shape. Interestingly, they usually appear symmetrically, which means you’ll have matching marks on both sides of the body (usually the face).
Are melasma symptoms dangerous? The answer is no; melasma is a cosmetic condition that doesn’t cause physical discomfort, tenderness, or itching.
Melasma tends to be a persistent, stubborn condition, but there are melasma treatment options that can help you manage the condition and significantly reduce its appearance.
Some melasma treatments involve topical creams, gels, and lotions. These formulas contain ingredients like tretinoin or corticosteroids, which lighten the skin. Another component in some topical treatments is azelaic acid, which works to slow the production of melanin (pigment in the skin).
Topical treatments are usually the first recommendation for melasma treatment. If these don’t seem to be working, however, we may try more advanced procedures like a chemical peel or the Aerolase laser.
Chemical peels are a type of exfoliation treatment that uses a specially formulated chemical solution to remove the top layers of the skin. When these outermost layers are removed, your skin is encouraged to produce new, healthier skin cells, which can reduce the appearance of melasma patches. Depending on the state of your skin, we may use chemical peels of varying strength.
Aerolase laser treatment is another option we have in our melasma treatment toolkit. Aerolase emits laser light into patches of skin hyperpigmentation in order to break down the pigment. The broken-down pigment particles are absorbed into your body’s lymphatic system and gradually eliminated from your body. The Aerolase laser helps reduce melasma patches while improving the skin’s overall tone and texture.
Treatments can certainly help manage melasma and reduce its appearance, but prevention remains key when managing this skin condition. Being proactive about skincare and sun protection can significantly decrease the likelihood that you’ll develop melasma or prevent any patches you currently have from worsening.
One of the most critical aspects of melasma prevention (and the general health of your skin) is wearing a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 30. A high SPF sunscreen will protect your skin from harmful UVB rays, which not only cause sunburns but also contribute to skin cancer.
You should choose a broad-spectrum sunscreen because it will protect your skin from both UVB and UVA rays. UVA rays are responsible for aging your skin prematurely and causing skin hyperpigmentation conditions like melasma.
By regularly and properly wearing sunscreen, you create a critical barrier against damaging UV rays. This barrier works to prevent melasma from developing or worsening. If you’re currently undergoing melasma treatments, it’s even more important to wear SPF since these treatments can make your skin more sensitive to the sun.
Of course, applying SPF isn’t just a once-a-day task; instead, you need to reapply it every two hours. You should also employ other sun protection measures like hats, sunglasses, and protective clothing, and try to stay in the shade whenever possible.
In addition to protecting your skin from the sun, you should pay attention to your skincare products. Products that contain harsh ingredients like retinoids can sometimes irritate your skin and make it more sensitive and vulnerable to sun damage. By choosing gentle, nonirritating skincare products, you can help prevent your skin from developing melasma.
Preventing melasma is a multifaceted approach that requires thoughtful skincare choices, diligent protection from the sun, and open discussions with your healthcare providers to better understand your risk factors.
If you are genetically prone to melasma or currently experiencing noticeable patches of melasma on your body, there are solutions to help you. You do not have to struggle alone with this condition. At Vibrant Dermatology, we offer melasma skincare solutions to clients who want to treat current melasma or prevent the future development of melasma.
To learn more about our treatment solutions, contact us today.