I understand Melasma is untreatable (except for bleaching creams) but sun damage can be removed by fraxel lasers and/or photo facials. Both are large brown spots.
July 26, 2010
Answer: Melasma VS Sun Damage
As our skin is bombarded by the sun's rays, including ultraviolet A and B, damage takes place and manifests itself in many ways. We refer to that grab bag of changes as sun damage (among them flaky, wrinkly skin with loss of elasticity and increase incidence of blotchiness and of a variety of benign, precancerous and cancerous lesions).
On the other hand, melasma refers to the facial hyperpigmentation of the cheeks which is seen with hormonal changes (birth control pills, pregnancy) and others.
As to :"How do I know the difference between sun damage and Melasma?" - your Plastic surgeon will know.
Helpful
July 26, 2010
Answer: Melasma VS Sun Damage
As our skin is bombarded by the sun's rays, including ultraviolet A and B, damage takes place and manifests itself in many ways. We refer to that grab bag of changes as sun damage (among them flaky, wrinkly skin with loss of elasticity and increase incidence of blotchiness and of a variety of benign, precancerous and cancerous lesions).
On the other hand, melasma refers to the facial hyperpigmentation of the cheeks which is seen with hormonal changes (birth control pills, pregnancy) and others.
As to :"How do I know the difference between sun damage and Melasma?" - your Plastic surgeon will know.
Helpful