Melasma is a common type of hyperpigmentation characterized by brownish or grayish patches on the face. It is also called chloasma and referred to as “the mask of pregnancy”, as it is common among pregnant women. Melasma isn’t harmful and does not pose any major health concerns, but it can cause emotional distress. If you or a loved one has melasma, you may probably have lots of questions about melasma. Continue reading to find out the answers to common questions about melasma.
Melasma commonly affects the face, particularly the forehead, cheeks, bridge of the nose, chin, and above the upper lip. These gray-brown patches, however, can also occur on other areas of the body that are usually exposed to the sun like the neck and forearms.
The exact cause of melasma is unclear. There are, however, a number of factors that are known to trigger this skin condition. Melasma is also more common among those with darker skin tone, as they have more active melanocytes (melanin-producing skin cells).
Here are the other factors that can cause or trigger melasma:
Significant hormone level fluctuations during pregnancy trigger skin discoloration. An increase in estrogen and progesterone levels can stimulate excessive melanin production, resulting in hyperpigmentation. This can make your skin and existing spots and freckles appear darker than usual.
If pregnancy is the trigger, melasma may go away on its own. This can happen months after you deliver the baby or after you finish breastfeeding.
Not entirely. This is because of the uncontrollable factors that can trigger the condition (hormones, pregnancy, and genetics). If you, however, have melasma, it is best to seek treatment and follow other protection measures to keep it from getting worse. These include:
It can disappear and fade away on its own, but there are also cases where melasma can linger for years or even permanently. As previously mentioned, melasma triggered by pregnancy may start fading after having the baby, but this is not always the case for everyone.
If melasma bothers you, treatments are available. There are also aesthetic procedures that can lighten these patches and improve the appearance of your melasma. Be reminded, however, that you should not treat melasma on your own; you need to see a skin or aesthetic doctor.
Want to learn more about the treatments for melasma and skin pigmentation? Contact Cutis Medical Laser Clinics today and schedule a consultation with our aesthetic doctor to fade or improve your skin discoloration.
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