What is Melasma?
Melasma is a common skin problem caused by brown to gray-brown patches on the face. Most people get it on their cheeks, chin, nose bridge, forehead, and above the upper lip. It is more common in women than men. Pregnancy is a common cause of melasma.
Sunburn
Sunburn is inflamed, painful skin that feels hot to the touch. It often appears within a few hours of being in the sun too long. You can get sunburn relief with simple self-care measures such as taking pain relievers and cooling the skin. But it may take days for the sunburn to fade.
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. 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.
Symptoms and Causes
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:
- Anti Seizure medications: Drugs that prevent you from having seizures may be a cause of melasma. An example of an antiseizure medication is Clobazam.
- Contraceptive therapy (birth control): Melasma has been observed in individuals who use oral contraceptive pills that contain estrogen and progesterone.
- Estrogen/Diethylstilbestrol: Diethylstilbestrol is a synthetic (man-made) form of the hormone estrogen. It’s often used in treatments for prostate cancer. Again, there’s a pattern between increased estrogen and melasma.
- Genetics: About 33% to 50% of people with melasma have reported that someone else in the family has it. The majority of identical twins both have melasma.
- Hypothyroidism: A condition where your thyroid is underactive.
- LED Screens: Melasma may be caused by the LED lights from your television, laptop, cell phone and tablet.
- Pregnancy: It is unclear why “the mask of pregnancy” happens to pregnant women. However, experts theorize that the increased levels of estrogen, progesterone and the melanocyte-stimulating hormones during the third trimester of pregnancy play a role.
- Hormones: Hormones like estrogen and progesterone may play a role in some people. Postmenopausal women are sometimes given progesterone, and have been observed developing melasma. If you aren’t pregnant, you likely have elevated levels of estrogen receptors found in your melasma lesions.
- Makeup (cosmetics): Some cosmetics can cause what’s called a phototoxic reaction.
- Phototoxic drugs (medicines that make you sensitive to sunlight): These include some antibiotics, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), diuretics, retinoids, hypoglycemics, antipsychotics, targeted therapies and some other drugs.
- Skin care products: A product that irritates your skin in general will likely make your melasma worse.
- Soaps: Some scented soaps are thought to cause or worse melasma.
- 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.
What are the signs of melasma?
Melasma causes light brown, dark brown, and/or bluish patches or freckle-like spots on your skin. Sometimes the patches can become red or inflamed. Melasma appears in six locations or a combination of locations on your skin:
- Brachial: The melasma appears on your shoulders and upper arms.
- Centro facial: 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.
Your healthcare provider will decide for sure if you have melasma or another type of skin disorder.
Best Hyperpigmentation Treatment : Homeopathic Treatment for Melasma
Homeopathy relies on understanding each person’s unique symptoms, responses to diseases, and potential for healing to diagnose and treat illnesses. Homeopathy is a medical approach based on the idea that the body is capable of healing itself. Practitioners use tiny quantities of natural ingredients, such as plants and minerals, as they promote healing.
In addition to treating the symptoms of melasma, homeopathic treatment seeks to determine the patient’s individual vulnerability and the underlying causes of the condition. The selection of homeopathic can be dependent upon a skin pigmentation treatment number of factors, including the etiology of the melasma, the patient’s individual experiences, and the specific triggers that exacerbate or mitigate the illness. The aim of homeopathic medicine for melasma is to treat the condition with a customized, comprehensive approach that takes into consideration the unique needs of each patient.
For personalized treatment and the best homeopathic treatment, please visit our clinic. Our experienced homeopath is dedicated to helping you achieve optimal skin health through tailored homeopathic solutions.
Schedule a consultation today and take the first step towards healthier, radiant skin.
