Melasma: Symptoms, causes and treatment

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Melasma
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Melasma

• Melasma is a skin condition that is associated
  with female hormones, and overexposure to sun
  rays. It is also known as chloasma, or the mask
  of pregnancy. Areas such as forehead, cheekbones
  and the upper lip are prone to developing
  melasma. However, it can also affect the chin,
  nose, sides of the neck and lower cheeks. It is
  an acquired condition, characterized by
  development of brown patches on the skin of the
  face and the neck. This condition is more common
  in women, than men. It generally occurs during
  the second or third trimester of pregnancy. Young
  women with brownish skin tones are more
  susceptible to this disorder. Although it is not
  a hazardous disease, it affects the appearance of
  a person, particularly making women, overtly
  self-conscious.

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What are the causes of Melasma?

• Melasma is caused by a combination of hormonal,
  genetic and sun-related factors. It is usually
  associated with the female hormones. Research
  indicates that melasma is caused due to the
  over-production of melanocytes. Melanocytes are
  skin cells that secrete melanin a pigment
  responsible for lending colour to our skin. It is
  more commonly seen in young women taking
  contraceptive pills and also during pregnancy.
• Melasma is also found to be associated
  with hormonal imbalance, menopauseand ovarian
  disorders. It may be triggered by a medication
  known as phenytoin or tetracycline.
• A prolonged exposure to sun is also responsible
  for developing melasma.
• Another cause of melasma could be the use of
  certain beauty products that may further
  stimulate the production of melanocytes.

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Symptoms

• Melasma causes irregular, brown or greyish-brown
  patches on the skin of the face and the neck. The
  brown-coloured patches are seen on the forehead,
  nose, cheeks, and the upper lip. They result from
  the increased amounts of skin pigment, called
  melanin. In some rare cases, there may be skin
  discoloration on both arms. There may be
  epidermal melasma (increased pigment in the
  epidermis) or dermal melasma (increased pigment
  present deeply in the dermis), or a combination
  of both.

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Treatments

• Melasma is generally related to pregnancy, and
  fades gradually after delivery. Similarly, the
  pigmentation gradually disappears when you
  discontinue the oral contraceptives. Darkening is
  likely to recur with reintroduction of
  contraceptive pills or subsequent pregnancy. 
• As the exposure to sunrays is one of the most
  prominent causes of melasma, use of sunscreens or
  sunblocks is an important treatment option.
• You should avoid exposure to ultraviolet light of
  the sun or tanning booths as much as possible.
• Depigmenting agents, bleaching creams, or vitamin
  A derivatives are also prescribed to reduce
  the skin pigmentation.

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Treatments
Continue

• Hydroquinone is the most commonly used agent. It
  can also be combined with some other agents such
  as glycolic acid to enhance its effect. Its
  effect is quite slow and occurs after several
  months.
• Besides the creams, other techniques such as
  microdermabrasion, chemical peel and laser
  treatment are also used to treat melasma. A
  chemical peeling with tri-chloro-acetic (TCA)
  acid or glycolic acid could give rapid results.

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Natural Remedies for Melasma

• Lemon juice is known to help treat melasma. It
  works well for the discoloured skin patches. All
  you need to do is to squeeze a few drops of lemon
  juice in a bowl, and apply the same to the
  affected area. Leave the smear for 15 to 20
  minutes and rinse hereafter. You may also choose
  to add cucumber juice to the lemon drops and
  apply the concoction all over the face. Leave the
  application overnight and rinse it off next
  morning. The effectiveness is proven, only when
  you continue with this regimen 3 to 4 times a
  week. Potato juice is also a resourceful agent
  used for lightening the pigmented skin patches.
  You may apply the juice and wash it off when you
  experience a skin stretch. 

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Natural Remedies for Melasma
Continue

• Considering the treatment options offered, you
  must bear in mind that the treatment for melasma
  is slow, and takes several months for the desired
  results. The effectiveness of treatment depends
  upon the depth of pigmentation and differs from
  person to person. A skin pigmentation lightening
  lotion may work very well for an acquaintance,
  however, may not prove to be as effective, in
  your case or vice versa.

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