I’m on Aviane birth control and have used various birth control pills; changing them hasn’t helped. I also use Obaji and that helps in the winter. I wear plenty of sunscreen and hats, but the hats seem to make the pigmentation on my forehead worse probably because they get hot. I’ve tried a Vi peel in the fall - that helped a little, but is too expensive to do regularly. Should I try changing to IUD? Is there anything else I could be doing? Is reapplying sunscreen better than wearing a hot hat?
Answer: Treating Melasma Melasma and age spots can be due to hormones, aging, sun exposure, thyroid dysfunction, and genetics. Treatments range from IPL to laser therapy; but pigmentation may recur if not complemented with topical creams to stabilize the pigment cells.
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Answer: Treating Melasma Melasma and age spots can be due to hormones, aging, sun exposure, thyroid dysfunction, and genetics. Treatments range from IPL to laser therapy; but pigmentation may recur if not complemented with topical creams to stabilize the pigment cells.
Helpful
May 3, 2018
Answer: Treating melasma Thank you for your question. I would start applying hydroquinone morning and night and retinol in the evening. Start those two ointments two weeks prior to a laser treatment. I would recommend treating melasma with a fractional laser. The fractional laser will help to make the discoloration dissipate, shrink your pores and improve texture of your skin. Stay out of the sun after the treatment and always wear spf 50.
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May 3, 2018
Answer: Treating melasma Thank you for your question. I would start applying hydroquinone morning and night and retinol in the evening. Start those two ointments two weeks prior to a laser treatment. I would recommend treating melasma with a fractional laser. The fractional laser will help to make the discoloration dissipate, shrink your pores and improve texture of your skin. Stay out of the sun after the treatment and always wear spf 50.
Helpful
April 11, 2018
Answer: Melasma Treatment--Best Treatment Is Clear + Brilliant / Fraxel / Aerolase w Microneedling/prp, Cosmelan Melasma needs a combination approach to get the best improvement and will need a series of treatments. In our practice, we combine Clear + brilliant, peels, Cosmelan, microneedling/PRP, aerolase, and sometimes erbium laser (coollaser) to get the best results. See an expert for a formal evaluation. Best, Dr. Emer
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April 11, 2018
Answer: Melasma Treatment--Best Treatment Is Clear + Brilliant / Fraxel / Aerolase w Microneedling/prp, Cosmelan Melasma needs a combination approach to get the best improvement and will need a series of treatments. In our practice, we combine Clear + brilliant, peels, Cosmelan, microneedling/PRP, aerolase, and sometimes erbium laser (coollaser) to get the best results. See an expert for a formal evaluation. Best, Dr. Emer
Helpful
April 16, 2018
Answer: Melasma Thanks for your question. Melasma is a difficult condition that we are learning more and more about all the time. There are many factors that seem to contribute such as UV light, visible light, inflammation, and hormones. When we look at treatment all these factors need to be considered, it is often the light that is one of the biggest contributors so strict adherence with sunscreen that has zinc or titanium to protect you from UV light as well as iron oxide to help with visible light and an antioxidant serum is extremely important in managing anybody’s melasma. Reapplication of sunscreen is very important, a product I find many women like is Colorscience as this is in a makeup style brush and can be put on right over makeup and offers high SPF with protection from UV and visible light sources. Other agents I often use are hydroquinone, Heliocare (an oral supplement that as UV protective benefits), other non-hydroquinone lightening agents, and a newer agent to be used in the US is tranexamic acid. As you note with the area the brim of your hat rubs there is also an inflammatory component to melasma so controlling friction is important in your case as well.
Helpful
April 16, 2018
Answer: Melasma Thanks for your question. Melasma is a difficult condition that we are learning more and more about all the time. There are many factors that seem to contribute such as UV light, visible light, inflammation, and hormones. When we look at treatment all these factors need to be considered, it is often the light that is one of the biggest contributors so strict adherence with sunscreen that has zinc or titanium to protect you from UV light as well as iron oxide to help with visible light and an antioxidant serum is extremely important in managing anybody’s melasma. Reapplication of sunscreen is very important, a product I find many women like is Colorscience as this is in a makeup style brush and can be put on right over makeup and offers high SPF with protection from UV and visible light sources. Other agents I often use are hydroquinone, Heliocare (an oral supplement that as UV protective benefits), other non-hydroquinone lightening agents, and a newer agent to be used in the US is tranexamic acid. As you note with the area the brim of your hat rubs there is also an inflammatory component to melasma so controlling friction is important in your case as well.
Helpful
April 15, 2018
Answer: Melasma We have amazing results with the Picoway laser for melasma. Melasma can be worsened by your hormones so if you could come off the pill this may help. I would recommend a sunblock like ELTA everyday. As well, try to avoid sun as much as possible. Consider a lightening cream as well for daily use such as hydroquinone ( beware the side effects) kojic acid or something of the sorts.
Helpful
April 15, 2018
Answer: Melasma We have amazing results with the Picoway laser for melasma. Melasma can be worsened by your hormones so if you could come off the pill this may help. I would recommend a sunblock like ELTA everyday. As well, try to avoid sun as much as possible. Consider a lightening cream as well for daily use such as hydroquinone ( beware the side effects) kojic acid or something of the sorts.
Helpful
