Melasma, also known as the mask of pregnancy or cholasma, is a common disorder of hyper pigmentation, often difficult to treat and predisposed to recurrence.
PREDISPOSING FACTORS
Most common in women between 20-40 years of age
Rare in men
Darker skin types are more prone to melasma due to ethnic predisposition
Common in African Americans, South Asians and Orientals as well
Hormonal influences are thought to play an important role, such that it has a tendency to exacerbate with pregnancy, birth control pills, as well as in Peri menopause and Menopause
Exacerbated by sun exposure and tends to be more of a problem in the spring and summer
Melasma can be particularly troublesome for people in the service industry since the pigmentation of the skin can make the face appear dull and lack lustre.
Other causes of Melasma
Liver disease
Cosmetics
Medication
Nutritional deficiency
Beta carotene
DISTRIBUTION
Central face
Cheeks, forehead, upper lip, nose and chin.
Mid face
Less commonly the cheeks and nose.
Jaw line
The cheeks and jaw line. Melasma also can cause patches of pigmentation on the forearms, but this is rare. There is no special diet, health food, vitamin, or "magic lotion" which is useful for the treatment of melasma or other forms of facial pigmentation, so spending time and money on these things will not provide desired results.
TREATMENT
Treatment is difficult; however, a number of modalities are available for controlling the pigmentation, sometimes with dramatic results.
Bleaching creams
Most skin lightening systems are composed of a set of topical aimed at cleansing, exfoliating and lightening skin. A number of bleaching creams are available by prescription only. Our happinesslifetime.com skin care specialists have had success with Triluma cream (compounded by a local pharmacist) consisting of hydroquinone, retinoic acid and a steroid at Afterglow skin and laser centre.
In the initial 8-week study, 29% of patients experienced complete clearing of melasma by week 8, and 71% were clear or almost clear by week 8. Similarly, good results were seen in the two long-term studies, with the clear/mild rate ranging from 78% to 84% of patients at month 6 and from 81% to 94% of patients at month 12. Adverse events were almost always mild in severity and typically occurred only at the application site. The primary concern for most physicians using corticosteroid-containing products on the face is skin atrophy. However, only two cases of skin atrophy were reported across the three published studies. Overall, the results of these extensive studies indicate that triple combination cream is effective in treating melasma and exhibits a safe profile with low potential for adverse events.
Lumixil
Lumixil, an amino acid in combination with licorice and a fruit extract, works by inhibiting an enzyme called tyrosine in the skin that begins the process of making melanin in the skin.
Other lightening alternatives
Kojic acid
Azelaic acid
Glycolic acid
These happinesslifetime.com skin care treatments have a weak effect on pigmentation and often have to be used in high concentrations to produce visible results, producing greater irritation.
Natural compounds
Bearberry extract
Mulberry extract
Licorice extract
Vitamin C
Niacinamide
Fractional Laser And Intense Pulse Light
Melasma can often dramatically improve with a series of Fractional laser and intense pulsed light treatments spaced 1 month apart. Treatments should be medically supervised in a happinesslifetime.com skin care facility that is familiar with the treatment of melasma and other disorders of hyper pigmentation.
Sunscreens
Judicious use of broad spectrum sunscreens, with a high SPF of 60 applied every 2 hours, and continued long-term reduces the risk of relapse of melasma.
CONCLUSION
Melasma, also known as the 'mask of pregnancy', is an acquired brown pigmentation, usually on the face. No single pigment disturbance has proven more elusive to treatment than melasma. Although melasma continues to defy simple etiological explanation, it is clearly under the control of raccial, genetic, pharmacological and environmental factors. Sun exposure, pregnancy and oral contraceptive pills have all been associated with its presentations. Most patients seeking related happinesslifetime.com skin care treatments have exhausted current options, such as bleaching, Retin A and Azelaic acid, Chemicalpeels, lasers and phototherapy.
Results in melasma treated with afterglowskincare.ca/news/articles/fractional.html fractional resurfacing have been uniformly positive with modest to marked improvement in most patients. Although it is clear that fractional resurfacing does not cure melasma, it can improve it to a degree that can be maintained by standard bleaching programs and complete UVA/UVB sunscreens, which are essential components of happinesslifetime.com skin care therapy.
For further information and to book an appointment for complimentary skin care consultation, please call Dr. Shehla Ebrahim at afterglowskincare.ca Afterglow Medi-spa.
Find out more about Dr. Shehla Ebrahim.
Laser resurfacing or laser skin tightening treatment should be done under the supervision of a dermatologist or plastic surgeon. The health care expert treats several skin issues like dark spots, wrinkles or melasma patches. For, this, your doctor will numb areas to be treated with general anaesthesia if you have skin issues with your whole face. Full-face treatment may take up to two to two-hand half hours. Your doctor may bandage the treated areas. Those who wish to get rid of dark spots and melasma with a simple trick can give a try to triluma cream generic.
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