Melasma Treatment To Reduce Dark or Grey Patches On Skin

There is no definitive answer on what exactly causes melasma. Anyone can get melasma but they are more common in women and dark-skinned individuals. Spending too much time under the sun too long or too often might increase the risks of developing melasma because UV rays can affect the cells which control pigment. It is also common in people with tropical climates.

It is usually linked to female hormones estrogen and progesterone. You might have a higher risk of having or developing melasma if you are a female taking birth control pills, taking hormone replacement therapy, or if you are pregnant. Some women develop melasma during their second or third trimester.

Here are other possible causes of melasma:

• Taking anti seizure medications
• Taking Estrogen or Diethylstilbestrol
• Having hypothyroidism
• Too much exposure to LED screens such as cellphones, laptops, televisions, and tablets.
• Makeups or cosmetics
• Taking phototoxic drugs
• Using some scented soaps
• Tanning beds
• Using skin care products that irritate your skin
• Hormones
• Genetics

Melasma is more common in women than men. 10% of people with melasma are men, the rest are women. Women are more susceptible to melasma because of the hormones estrogen and progesterone. If you are taking birth control pills, hormone replacement therapy, or pregnant, you will have a higher chance of developing melasma.

People with darker skin such as Asians, Indian, Latin/Hispanic, North African, African-American, Middle Eastern, or Mediterranean descent are more likely to get melasma compared to those with fair skin. If you spend a lot of time in front of your LED televisions, cellphones, laptops, and tablets, you will have a higher risk of developing melasma.

When you spend too much time under the sun often, the risk of developing melasma will be higher.

It depends. There are chances that melasma might go away on its own. If the melasma is caused by fluctuating hormones because of pregnancy or if you are taking hormone-based medications or contraceptive pills, there is a good chance the melasma will fade when your hormones return back to normal. You need to wait for a few months for this to happen.

However, if your melasma is not caused by contraceptive pills, pregnancy, or hormone-based medication, the skin discoloration might not go away from its own. Melasma patches might last for years and be impossible or difficult to treat on your own. Home remedies are not always that effective. In these cases, it is best to consult an experienced doctor.

Call us at 604-568-8800 and have them check your melasma spots or patches. We will ask you a couple of questions to help identify the cause of the discoloration. Then your doctor will give you a couple of treatments you can undergo to help even out your skin color.

Yes, there are home remedies to help you treat your melasma at home. Here are some of them:

• Aloe vera: You can use natural or store-bought aloe vera gel to do this. This plant is known for it being one of the most effective moisturizing and deeply hydrating ingredients but gentle to the skin. It also has anti-inflammatory properties. Aloe vera works by rehydrating and nourishing the dry skin deeply and helps protect the skin against the effects of UV exposure.
• Turmeric: This ingredient is famous for its antioxidant, antimutagenic, and anti-inflammatory properties. Just like aloe vera, it helps protect your skin against UV exposure and prevents melanin products in the skin. Curcumin, the primary compound in turmeric, is also famous for helping reduce hyperpigmentation. You can combine turmeric with gram flour and milk for better results.
• Orchid extract: It is one of the primary ingredients used in many Korean skincare products. The orchid extract helps relieve hyperpigmentation caused by melasma. However, it will not completely heal the hyperpigmentation, it will just reduce its size and tone the complexion of the skin.

Additional: Always wear sun protection. UV exposure is one of the primary causes of melasma. Use a wide spectrum sunscreen every day. If you are going out, wear wide brim hats to help cover your face.

Melasma might fade away on its own. However, that is not always the case. There are many topical treatments you can choose that use tyrosinase inhibitors that stop the formation of melanins and help prevent new pigmentation. These treatments include:

• Hydroquinone: This is usually the first treatment for treating melasma. Hydroquinone is applied directly to the skin and helps even out your skin tone. It usually is in the form of cream or lotion. For best results, use it at night for two to four months.
• Azelaic acid or kojic acid: Your dermatologist might also prescribe using creams, lotions, or gels with azelaic or kojic acids. Apply them twice a day for better results. This is safe for pregnant women.

The best way to know which treatment works best for your melasma is to ask us. This way, they will be able to properly diagnose and check the state of your melasma before advising you which treatment can work for you.

Both hyperpigmentation and melasma are common. When you see dark spots in your skin, it can be hard to tell which is melasma and which is hyperpigmentation.

Hyperpigmentation is the term used to cover many conditions where some parts or patches in your skin become darker compared to the surrounding skin which is usually lighter. There are different types of hyperpigmentation such as medications, acne scarring, or inflammation. However, the most common cause of hyperpigmentation is sun exposure. The UV rays can damage the skin. Some of the effects of too much exposure to the sun are freckles, melasma, liver spots, or in more severe cases, skin cancer. These conditions fall under hyperpigmentation.

Melasma is a specific type of hyperpigmentation. What sets melasma apart from other types of hyperpigmentation is the cause. The most common cause of melasma is the hormonal changes in the body unlike other types of hyperpigmentation caused by sun exposure. It is sometimes called "the mask of pregnancy" because pregnant women are more likely to get melasma with the hormonal changes that happen in their bodies. Melasma usually shows in the face, cheeks, chin, nose, upper lip, or other cranial areas. It can also be found in the shoulders or parts that are prone to sun exposure.

In treating melasma, the first thing you need to do is prevent it from spreading or getting worse. You can do this by limiting your sun exposure, using tanning beds, LED screens, irritating soaps, and taking medications like birth control pills and hormones.

Always make sure to wear sunscreen. Choose a sunscreen that offers broad-spectrum protection with at least a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of 30 or more. It should also contain zinc oxide and/or titanium dioxide to help limit the effects of the UV rays on your skin. For best results, apply sunscreen 15 minutes before going out. Reapply sunscreen every 2 hours.

Most importantly, choose your skin care products carefully. Always go for gentle ones. If its stings or burns your skin, do not use them again because it will cause irritation and might worsen your melasma.

Lastly, avoid waxing the areas affected by melasma. It will cause inflammation and worsen your melasma. If you are keen on removing hair in parts affected by melasma, consult your dermatologist for other possible hair removal treatments you can do.

If topical treatments are not helping you, it is best to consult your dermatologist for other treatments you can do to help your melasma. Here are the most common melasma treatments and procedures:

• Facial peels: Also called chemical peels, they can effectively remove and peel off the top layer of your skin to reduce skin pigmentation. After undergoing this treatment, you will have even, brighter, and fresher skin. It can be combined with laser treatment to speed up the clearance of pigments. Facial peels are also a great alternative for clients who can't undergo laser treatment.
• Laser Q-Switch treatment: The special laser used for this treatment is FDA approved especially for treating melasma. Only a certified and experienced laser aesthetician can use this device. It is specially made to gently remove the pigmented patches in your skin. However, you will need to undergo multiple treatments to completely remove all pigmented patches.
• Micro-needling with anti-melanin serum: A numbing cream will be applied to the affected area. Small tiny needles are used to open up the micro-channels in tissue. Then, an anti-melanin serum is applied. By opening up all the micro-channels in the affected tissue, the serum will be able to penetrate better and deeper into the skin. The serum contains various ingredients which help reduce melanin production.
• Pharmaceutical grade skin care products: Using the right products can help treat melasma. Choose skin care products that contain active ingredients to help reduce the melanin production in your skin, speed up cellular turnover, and even up your skin tone. If the product leaves a burning sensation, replace the product you are using.

Yes, laser treatments are 100% safe for treating melasma. However, this treatment cannot be used on all people. It is best to consult with your trusted doctor to have your skin checked. They will be able to identify if laser treatment works best for your condition and which type of laser or other treatments you can do to help with your melasma.

There are 3 types of laser that can be used for this treatment, namely:

• IPL
• Fractional
• Q-Switch

All these 3 types of laser are safe. Ask your doctor which one best fits your needs and skin condition.

Laser treatments are ideal for those people who are looking for long-term and quick results. But you have to remember, you might need to go to multiple laser treatments to completely deal with the melasma. Some might also need maintenance treatments. The number of treatments needed will depend on the severity and the number of areas you need to be treated.

The cost of undergoing laser treatment for your melasma will depend on the size of the treatment area, the severity, which laser will be used for the treatment, and how many treatments you will need. To know the specific cost you need to prepare, consult your trusted and experienced dermatologist. They will be able to give you the proper quote and answer questions regarding the treatment to help you be at ease.

Laser treatments are a very effective treatment to help deal with melasma. Q-Switch laser is also the most effective type of laser used for this treatment, especially if you have a darker skin tone.

After one session, you can immediately see the changes and results. However, you might be required to have 3 to 4 or more sessions depending on your melasma. These treatments will be spaced out, about 30 days apart. Call us today at 604-568-8800 to find a melasma treatment that works for you.