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Will Changing to a Different Pill Help my Melasma?
asked 1 year ago by MissP in England
Latest answer by Benjamin Barankin, MD
Question viewed 495 times
Tags: melasma, pill
I have had malasma for the last 15 months and my doctor thinks it is prob due to the pill i am taking. Will it help if i change the type of pill i am using?
3 answers to Will Changing to a Different Pill Help my Melasma?
+2
It is hard to predict
I have had a number of patients change birth control pills to try to help their melasma, at times it has helped and at other times if has not. It is certainly worth a try, but since the exact cause of melasma is unknown, there is not a specific pill to recommend as better for people with melasma. We do know that times of hormonal change (pregnancy, going on the pill, etc.) often trigger or worsen melasma. Stopping the pill altogether may help as well, but of course should be discussed...
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Colby Evans, MD
Austin Dermatologic Surgeon
Austin Dermatologic Surgeon
+1
Oral contraceptive and melasma
Melasma can is aggravated by sun and hormones, so being on the oral contraceptive or becoming pregnanct can start or aggravate melasma. It is worth switching oral contraceptives, possibly to a lower dose estrogen or to an IUD. Speak to your dermatologist about the best sunscreens and fading creams, as well as possibly considering chemical peels and microdermabrasion.
+1
Will Changing the Brand of Pill Help with Melasma
Hello MissP. It's worth a try, but the bottom line is that no one knows until you change it. Melasma is a very difficult condition to manage and from what we see in our practice, once you have it, it's very difficult to modify. We have found that high dose hydroquinone is the only way to manage the condition (includes 3 month "rest periods") and we have tried many different treatments.
We have not seen a patient indicate that they experienced an...
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