What Is Melasma and How Do You Treat It Effectively?

Uneven, patchy skin is a common, yet frustrating, condition. Known as melasma, this skin condition causes brown or greyish patches to develop on the face.

Melasma can occur in both men and women and most commonly affects the forehead, cheeks, nose, and chin. While you can’t always anticipate melasma, you can reduce its appearance with the right topical products and other non-invasive treatments. Learn more about melasma, what causes it, and how you can reduce the look of dark spots on skin.

What Causes Melasma?

Researchers suggest that progesterone and estrogen sensitivity has been found to be associated with this condition. Darker skinned individuals are also at a higher risk of developing melasma than lighter-skinned people.

Other possible causes of melasma include stress, thyroid disease, and excessive sun exposure. Ultraviolet rays have been found to affect the skin cells that control pigment.

How is Melasma Treated?

Melasma treatments are often a long and difficult process and may require combination treatments to see good results. It requires patience and compliance with your aesthetic doctor’s treatment plan that can last over weeks and months.

Depending on the cause of the condition, your aesthetic doctor may prescribe you with medication or cream to fix the underlying cause.

There are also instances that certain medications may be to blame for your unwanted skin pigmentation. If this is the case, you may be advised to discontinue the use of the medications. However, it is best to discuss it with your physician first.

Melasma Treatment in Cutis Laser Clinics

In Cutis, we often start with a computerized VISIA skin analysis to determine the type of pigmentation you may have. Based on the findings of your skin analysis, our aesthetic doctor will then create a treatment plan that suits your individual needs and concerns.

To find out more on our melasma treatments, here are some of the procedures that you can consider and discuss with your aesthetic doctor.

1. Skin Lightening Creams

Topical treatments are often a go-to pigmentation treatment for individuals who prefer to treat themselves at home. At the Cutis Laser Clinics, we offer the Obagi Skin Lightening Program. This 3-step program contains Obagi Clear (3), Obagi Exfoliator Forte (4), and Obagi Blender (5).

Together, these skin lightening products can fade age spots, freckles, melasma, and other unwanted pigmentation. This skin lightening treatment can also be combined with other prescription creams such as Differin (Vitamin A that increase cell turnover) and Cysteamine cream (an antioxidant ingredient that reduces pigmentation).

2. Chemical Peel

Chemical Peel is another safe option in treating melasma. Chemical peel such as VI Peel works by applying a safe solution in a controlled and safe manner to target the damaged layer of the skin.

VI Peel is formulated with Retinoic Acid, Phenol, Salicylic Acid, Trichloroacetic Acid, Vitamin C, and other clinically-proven ingredients which cause the skin to “peel off” removing the damaged layer and revealing new, healthier skin.

After 5-7 days and once the peeling is complete, you will notice a smoother, brighter and more even skin tone. Depending on the type of melasma you may have, several sessions are needed to see good results.

VI Peel is also an effective treatment to reduce acne scars, wrinkles, freckles and other facial blemishes.

3. Safe Oral Supplement

Certain oral supplements containing Phytofloral and Tranexamic acid have been found in clinical studies to be safe and effective in treating brown spots and melasma on the skin.

Phytofloral is a natural antioxidant that comes from non-chemical processed tomatoes with colorless carotenoids (the only type that can absorb UVA and UVB light and are the only carotenoids in nature that are colorless). Phytofloral lightens the skin by protecting it from environmental damage which causes sunburn, age spots and pigmentation.

Tranexamic acid on the other hand, is made from an amino acid (protein) called lysine which was discovered in clinical studies to reduce melasma safely if used in lower concentrations.

These ingredients can be found in Diamond Tomato, a safe prescription supplement that has been found to help maintain healthy, radiant skin starting from within. It is important to take note that Diamond Tomato requires a prescription from a Cutis aesthetic doctor.

Schedule your Consultation Now

To find out more about our other treatments for pigmentation like melasma, contact Cutis Laser Clinics and schedule a consultation with our aesthetic doctor and skin specialist in Singapore, Dr. Sylvia Ramirez.

Tags: hyperpigmentation treatment, IPL, chemical peel