Do you think you (or someone you know) have Melasma? Curious to know what it is, and the best melasma treatments available? You’re in the right place then!
What is melasma and what does it look like?
Melasma is a common skin disorder, particularly affecting women. Loosely translated, the word melasma means “black spot.” If you have melasma then you’re probably experiencing light brown to dark brown and sometimes, less often, blue-gray patches on your skin. They can appear as flat patches or larger freckle-like spots. The most commonly affected areas include your face, especially the cheeks, upper lip and forehead. Some people experience Melasma on the forearms too. Melasma is sometimes called the “mask of pregnancy” and this is because it frequently affects pregnant women because of hormonal changes and the increase of oestrogen. This means that it can also affect those on medication, such as different forms of contraception, which alter your hormones.
Melasma typically darkens and lightens over time, often getting worse in the summer and better in the winter. It can also increase with heat too, not just direct sunlight.
Initial Questions About Melasma
Where does melasma most commonly occur?
Melasma appears most commonly on your cheeks, nose, chin, above the upper lip and the forehead. It sometimes affects your arms, neck and back.
How common is melasma?
Melasma is a very common skin disorder, especially among pregnant women. So many pregnant women will experience some degree of melasma and often it goes away once they have finished their family.
Who is at risk of melasma?
Fairer-skinned people are less likely to be affected by melasma than those with darker brown skin or those who tan well. Women are more likely to get melasma than men: about 10% of those who get melasma are men, 90% women. Pregnant women get melasma more often than anyone else. You’re also at risk if you take oral contraceptives and hormones.
Is melasma cancerous?
Melasma is not cancerous, nor is it a sign of cancer, or a skin condition that “turns into” cancer. However, it is always a good idea to get any skin spot checked by your doctor.
Is melasma permanent?
Melasma is a typically chronic disorder. This means that it’s long-lasting (three months or more). Some people have melasma for years or their entire lives. Other people may have melasma for just a short time, such as during pregnancy. Sometimes melasma can be hereditary, and this is usually when you are darker skinned and produce more melanin.
Is melasma painful?
Melasma is harmless. It’s not painful, itchy, or uncomfortable in any way.
Can melasma appear overnight?
No. Melasma appears slowly over a period of weeks or months.
Are freckles melasma?
Spots of melasma can sometimes be mistaken for freckles but they are not the same skin condition.
Are age spots/sun spots/liver spots melasma?
They can look similar! But, melasma patches are almost always larger than what we call age spots, sun spots, or liver spots.
What is Melasma?
What happens in the skin?
Your skin is made up of three layers. The outer layer is the epidermis, the middle is the dermis, and the deepest layer is the subcutis. It’s an organ – the largest organ – and it makes up about one-seventh of your body weight. Your skin is your barricade. It protects your bones, muscles, organs and everything else from the cold, from germs, sunshine, moisture, toxic substances, injury and much more. It also helps regulate your body temperature, prevent dehydration and feel sensations.
Your epidermis contains cells called melanocytes that store and produce a dark color (pigment) known as melanin. In response to light, heat, or ultraviolet radiation or by hormonal stimulation, the melanocytes produce more melanin, and that’s why your skin darkens.
Why do women get melasma when they’re pregnant?
Pregnant women have increased levels of the hormones estrogen and progesterone. These hormones are thought to contribute to your melasma. The darker color usually fades after pregnancy.
What are the types of melasma?
There are three types of melasma and they have to do with the depth of the pigment. A Wood’s lamp that emits black light may be used to determine the depth of the pigment. We often use one in our clinic. The three types are:
- Epidermal: Epidermal melasma has a dark brown color, a well-defined border, appears obvious under black light and sometimes responds well to treatment.
- Dermal: Dermal melasma has a light brown or bluish color, a blurry border, appears no differently under black light and doesn’t respond well to treatment.
- Mixed melasma: Mixed melasma, which is the most common of the three, has both bluish and brown patches, shows a mixed pattern under black light and shows some response to treatment.
What causes melasma?
There are two main causes of melasma: radiation, whether ultraviolet, visible light, or infrared (heat) light; and hormones.
Ultraviolet and infrared radiation from the sun are key in making melasma worse. Other possible causes of melasma include:
- Antiseizure medications: Drugs that prevent you from having seizures may be a cause of melasma.
- Contraceptive medication (birth control): Melasma is more common in those who use oral contraceptive pills that contain estrogen and progesterone.
- Genetics: Many people with melasma have reported that someone else in the family has it.
- Hypothyroidism: A condition where your thyroid is underactive.
- LED Screens: Melasma may be caused by the LED lights from your television, laptop, mobile phone and tablet. A good reason for some digital detox!!
- Pregnancy: The increased levels of estrogen, progesterone and the melanocyte-stimulating hormones especially during the third trimester of pregnancy play a role in melasma during pregnancy
- Hormones: Hormones like estrogen and progesterone may play a role in some people. Postmenopausal women are sometimes given progesterone, and can develop melasma.
- Makeup (cosmetics): Some cosmetics can cause what’s called a phototoxic reaction. A good reason to check out or non toxic range of mineral makeup!!
- Phototoxic drugs (medicines that make you sensitive to sunlight): These include some antibiotics, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), diuretics to name a few.
- Skin care products: A product that irritates your skin in general will likely make your melasma worse.
- Tanning beds: The UV light produced by tanning beds damages your skin just as bad as the UV light from the sun, and sometimes worse. It is CRAZY to know that you can still buy these and I have had clients that have had them in their homes!!
Do certain foods affect melasma?
At this time no foods or drinks are known by experts to directly cause, magically cure or worsen melasma. However, to keep your skin healthy in general, try a skin-healthy diet of foods rich in Vitamin D such as:
- Almond milk
- Eggs
- Meat
- Milk
- Mushrooms
- Oily fish
- Orange juice
- Natural Yogurt
Do you have Melasma?
What are the signs of melasma?
Melasma causes light brown, dark brown, and/or bluish patches or large freckle-like spots on your skin. Melasma appears in six locations or a combination of locations on your skin:
- Brachial: The melasma appears on your shoulders and upper arms.
- Centrofacial: The melasma appears on your forehead, cheeks, nose and upper lip.
- Lateral cheek pattern: The melasma appears on both cheeks.
- Malar: The melasma appears on your cheeks and nose.
- Mandibular: The melasma appears on the jawline.
- Neck: In people age 50 or older, melasma can appear on all sides of the neck.
Best Melasma Treatments
Is there a cure for melasma? (Also known as ‘The Most Important Question’)
Melasma is tricky to treat. To determine a treatment plan, it’s good to know what is possibly causing the melasma. Is it sunlight? Your contraception? Genetics? Too much screen time? (probably yes for screen time) or hormonal?
Depending on the person, melasma may go away on its own, it may be permanent, or it may respond to treatment within a few months. Most cases of melasma will fade away with time and especially with good protection from sunlight and other sources of light.
SPF and Melasma
Remembering that heat can worsen melasma, it is important to use a physical sunblock. A physical sunblock, such as zinc, acts as a shield between you and the sun, reflecting the sun away.
A chemical sunscreen, such as those with SPF 50, absorbs the sunlight and uses the heat as energy before it damages your skin. This is why I would always apply a chemical block first (SPF 50) then put a zinc over the top.
It is best to also wear a wide brimmed hat.
How long will I have melasma?
If you have the deeper dermal pigment, it may take longer to fade away than if you have the epidermal pigment. Melasma is typically a chronic disorder. This means that it’s long-lasting (three months or more). Depending on the person, melasma may go away on its own, it may be permanent, or it may respond to treatment. If you take preventative measures and follow any treatments, your melasma will lighten or disappear.
Clinical treatment for melasma
So many clinics will advertise lasers as an option for melasma. Given that we know that heat exacerbates melasma, lasers are not a good idea. It can give short term benefits, but most will find that melasma will return, often much darker and more of it.
Cosmelan DePigmentation Treatment is a very successful treatment that we offer in our Hobart clinic with amazing results.
We also recommend regular lactic peels as another option for melasma.
Best Selling Skin Care Options For Melasma
(men and non-pregnant or breastfeeding women)
If you need any help in choosing your skin care, you can email us at info@theskincareclinic.com.au.
Best Selling Skin Care Options For Pregnant & Breastfeeding Women
If you need any help in choosing your skin care, you can email us at info@theskincareclinic.com.au.
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Osmosis Rescue Epidermal Repair Serum
$253.00 -
Osmosis Purify Enzyme Cleanser
$58.00 – $94.00 -
Osmosis Catalyst DNA Repair C Serum
$253.00 -
Osmosis Protect Ultra-Sheer Protective Moisturiser
$70.00
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