Melasma
Melasma…
The 3-syllable word, when it comes to skincare, many do not know how to successfully treat.
I am here to tell you, there are multiple modalities to treating this skin condition that ails millions.
First off - what is Melasma?
Melasma, as described by the American Academy of Dermatology, “is a skin condition that causes patches and spots, usually on the face, which are darker than your natural skin tone. While common, melasma can be mistaken for another skin condition.” It can be hormonal or caused by external factors such as UV light and radiation, which explains why many women first notice the change to their skin during pregnancy, often times referred to as the “pregnancy mask” that is caused by the overproduction of melanin - the cells that contribute to your natural pigmentation.
Other possible causes of melasma from the Cleveland Clinic include:
Antiseizure medications: Drugs that prevent you from having seizures such as Clobazam.
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. (blue light)
Pregnancy: It is unclear why “the mask of pregnancy” happens to pregnant women. However, experts theorize that the increased levels of estrogen, progesterone and melanocyte-stimulating hormones during the third trimester of pregnancy play a role.
Hormones: Hormones like estrogen and progesterone may affect 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, hypoglycaemics, 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.
Melasma is most often found on the face in a symmetric and flat pattern on both sides of the face, ie: the forehead, cheek, and or upper lip areas. They can range from a tan to a grayish brown to a bluish-gray patch. It is not cancerous or contagious and will likely get darker in the summer months and lighter in the winter months.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, there are three types of melasma depending on 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, and 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.
How it can be treated?
While it may disappear on its own after pregnancy or stopping oral contraceptives, other modalities may need to be implemented in order to effectively treat it.
First, it is important to know that in some cases. It may not be completely treated but lightened. These are the cases where it is chronic and will take longer to treat, so be patient and talk to your medical provider.
At Wisdom & Youth Medical Spa, we formulate a plan based on both the patient and the budget.
Treatments we are currently offering that have proven to be effective are:
Chemical peels. There are medium-depth prescriptive peels that have been proven efficacious over the course of 2-4 months. Typically 3 peels are recommended spaced 1 month apart.
Medical Grade Skincare has multiple scientific publications and awards due to its impressive and effective results. We love Skinbetter Science. It’s Alto Advance Defense and Repair is the FIRST product to help both intrinsically and extrinsically. Meaning, it has 19 antioxidants that will help fight off free radicals that have been proven to contribute to Melasma. It has been clinically shown to reverse the aging of the skin.
SPF!!! SPF, SPF…I cannot tell you HOW important this is….especially an SPF 30 or greater….and no, I am not talking about a moisturizer with an SPF in it. That will NOT be enough. Our favorites are Alastin HydraTint SPF 36 and ALL the Skinbetter Science SPF. Both brands will protect against UVA /UVB and blue light, which is a contributing factor to melasma.
Prescriptions such as Hydroquinone are effective too, however, you can only be on it for 3 months and will need to titrate off.
Certain lasers are meant specifically for Melasma - such as the Moxi by Scion. This platform will help with discoloration. Note: Not all lasers are the same, so you will need to do your research or go to a provider you trust!
Lastly, skincare consistency. At-home peels with Skinbetter using their AlphaRet Peel Pads, as long as you are not pregnant, nursing, or looking to become pregnant.
You can find all of these products on our website!! Just click here!!
If you would like to come for a consultation, we would love to have you!! www.wisdomandyouthllc.com