Melasma And Its Treatment
Alternatively called chloasma, or the “mask of pregnancy,” melasma refers to a discoloration of the skin that generally appears as irregularly shaped dark, tan patches which generally affects a great number of pregnant ladies as well as women who make use of oral or patch contraceptives. Chloasma is also known to appear on women who are undergoing hormone replacement therapy (HRT) medications. Individuals of Jewish, Russian, in addition to German descent have also been known to be susceptible to having facial pigmentation/discoloration thanks to melasma, which has been shown in recent studies on skin conditions.
The most usually afflicted parts of the body by melasma include the upper cheeks, forehead, upper lip, nose, and lips, which can further in coverage as time progresses. Medically speaking, chloasma is a kind of skin discoloration brought on by the stimulation of melanocytes (the body’s pigment-producing cells) by sex hormones of the female, such as estrogen and progesterone, to produce abnormally big amounts of melanin when the skin is under too much sun for far too long.
Melasma treatment is sought after by many to remove the unsightly patches of tan skin which can mar one’s looks considerably. Fortunately for women who are taking contraceptives or are pregnant, their melasma typically fades away on its own, months after giving birth or after they stop using contraceptives. The same can also go for numerous women undergoing HRT.
There are several ways of melasma treatment which are basically done to help speed up the fading of the irregularly colored skin areas. Examples of methods of melasma treatment can consist of using a topical depigmenting agent called hydroquinone (HQ) that hinders the production of tyrosinase. This treatment works since tyrosinase is a necessary enzyme in the making of melanin. By using tretinoin as another way, this helps cure melasma by increasing the production of skin cells. It is unfortunate, though, that women who are carrying a child in their womb are forbidden from using this way of melasma treatment. Azelaic acid, when used, is another alternative method and works by hindering the activity of the melanocytes; chemical peels with glycolic acid and facial peels with alpha hydroxyacids can also serve as a means to erase melasma. A laser treatment using the Fraxel laser is also another way of melasma removal.
Treatment varies from case to case basis, since one method may be more effective than others for one person. But it is a fact that despite whatever kind of treatment technique one takes for melasma, that person must strictly refrain from being exposed to the sun once the treatment has started. The effects of any treatment will be seen gradually so during treatment, one should start staying away from the sun. For a successful treatment for melasma, it is recommended that you start to use sunscreen on your body and face.
