If you are developing uneven brown spots that are progressive and chronic, then you may have a condition known as melasma. These spots should always be examined by a physician who can determine the cause. There isn’t a cure for melasma, but there are a number of melasma treatments worth considering.
Melasma Solutions |
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In patients who experience melasma, the skin of their face is prone to brown spots and uneven pigmentation. On the cellular level, the pigment cells have receptors on their surface that are genetically programmed to be hypersensitive to hormones, sun exposure, and inflammatory modulators. Melasma may worsen with birth control pills, exogenous estrogens, pregnancy, estrogen replacement therapy, and even plant estrogens in your diet (source: Raffy Karamanoukian, MD).
Melasma doctor tips
Although estrogen has long been felt to be central to the cause of melasma, there are few studies to prove this. One can speculate, and since we do not have the research to back this up, the higher levels of estrogen AND progesterone during pregnancy and oral contraceptives DO indeed play a role (source: Arnold Oppenheim, MD).
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Is there a cure for melasma?
Unfortunately, there is no known permanent cure for melasma. Melasma is a common disorder caused by increased pigmentation of the skin, usually on the exposed areas of the face. It is more common in women with darker skin tones, and women who are pregnant, on birth control pills, or taking hormone replacement. It is also seen in certain diseases that involve the hormones (source: L Jordana Gilman, MD). See more >>
Melasma treatment before & after
Simply staying out of the sun and protecting yourself with sunscreen is the first common recommendation. Melasma treatments are based on reducing the production of pigment in the melanocytes (or melanin-forming cells). Although there are several alternative melasma treatments:
However, be careful as the last three treatments, although effective, can actually worsen the melasma if not done by an experienced physician (source: Raffy Karamanoukian, MD).
When considering melasma treatment, care and consideration must be used for patients with darker skin types, as hypopigmentation may occur, creating a separate skin problem (source: Steven H Williams, MD). See more >>