What Is The Best Method For Treating Melasma On Face

Pigmentation that causes brown or grey patches to appear on the skin, primarily on the face is called melasma.

The common areas for melasma appears:

• the bridge of the nose
• the forehead
• the cheeks
• the upper lip
• the forearms
• the neck
• the shoulders

People with darker skin tones are prone to develop melasma. 

Causes for melasma include:

• Hormonal changes during pregnancy or for taking birth control pills
• sun exposure
• certain skincare products 
• It may be a genetic

The primary symptom of melasma is the development of discoloured patches of skin. 

Since melasma resembles other skin conditions so a dermatologist may take a small biopsy during the initial visit. Wood’s light can also be used to look more closely at the skin.

Treatment is not always necessary for melasma. If it occurs during pregnancy or while taking birth control pills, it will fade after delivery or once a person stops taking the pills.

For other people, melasma lasts for years or even for the rest of their lives. If melasma does not fade over time, treatment can be done to help remove or fade the patches.

Treatment options for melasma include:

1. A person can apply hydroquinone lotion directly to melasma. A stronger creams can also prescribe. 
2. In some cases, a combination of creams may be prescribed that may contain hydroquinone, corticosteroids, and tretinoin in one. These are called triple creams.
3. Azelaic acid or kojic acid may be prescribed. These acids work to lighten the dark areas of skin.
4. Some procedures which may be followed are :

• Microdermabrasion- a procedure that uses particles of aluminum oxide or sodium bicarbonate to abrase the surface of the skin.
• Chemical Peel – a chosen peel solution induces a controlled injury to the skin.
• Laser Treatment – Laser removes skin layer by layer.
• Light Therapy – is a treatment of exposing skin to artificial light
• Dermabrasion – a skin resurfacing procedure that uses a rapidly rotating device to sand the outer layer of skin.

Some of these treatment options have side effects or may cause other skin problems.

After treatment the following precautions may be followed:

• avoid sun exposure when going out of the house
• wear a hat when outside especially in winters or near seashore
• use sunscreen to prevent being exposed to the ultraviolet rays or even while cooking.

Treatment is effective for some people only. Melasma that is due to hormonal changes may fade over time, once hormone levels return to normal.