Melasma 01 Melasma Introduction-Boston Cosmetic Specialists from Dr. Ishoo on Vimeo.
Melasma (muh-LAZ-muh) is a common skin problem. It causes brown to gray-brown patches on the face. Most people get it on their cheeks, bridge of their nose, forehead, chin, and above their upper lip. It also can appear on other parts of the body that get lots of sun, such as the forearms and neck.
Sun exposure triggers melasma.
One of the most common treatments for melasma is sun protection. This means wearing sunscreen every day and reapplying the sunscreen every 2 hours. Dermatologists also recommend wearing a wide-brimmed hat when you are outside. Sunscreen alone may not give you the protection you need.
Women are far more likely than men to get melasma. It is so common during pregnancy that some people call it the mask of pregnancy. Hormones seem to trigger melasma.
Common signs (what you see) of melasma are brown or gray-brown patches on the face. These patches most commonly appear on the:
Some people get patches on their forearms or neck. This is less common.
Melasma does not cause any symptoms (what people feel). But many people dislike the way melasma makes their skin look.
Melasma appears on women’s skin much more often than men’s skin. Just 10% of people who get melasma are men.
People with darker skin, such as those of Latin/Hispanic, North African, African-American, Asian, Indian, Middle Eastern, and Mediterranean descent are more likely to get melasma. People who have a blood relative who had melasma also are much more likely to get melasma.
What causes melasma is not yet clear. It likely occurs when the color-making cells in the skin (melanocytes) produce too much color. People with skin of color are more prone to melasma because they have more active melanocytes than those with light skin.
Common melasma triggers (what starts it) include:
Dermatologists can diagnose most patients by looking at their skin. To see how deeply the melasma penetrates the skin, your dermatologist may look at your skin under a device called a Wood’s light.
Sometimes melasma can look like another skin condition. To rule out another skin condition, your dermatologist may need to remove a small bit of skin. This procedure is called a biopsy. A dermatologist can safely and quickly perform a biopsy during an office visit.
Melasma can fade on its own. This often happens when a trigger is causing the melasma, such as a pregnancy or birth control pills. When the woman delivers the baby or stops taking the birth control pills, melasma can fade.
Some people, however, have melasma for years — or even a lifetime. If the melasma does not go away or a woman wants to keep taking birth control pills, melasma treatments are available. These include:
Dr Ishoo will discuss with you possible side effects (health problems that can result from the treatment).
If you notice any of the following after treating melasma, be sure to discuss them with Dr. Ishoo:
Under Dr. Ishoo’s care, many people with melasma have achieve a good outcome. Melasma can be stubborn, though. It may take a few months of treatment to see improvement. It is important to follow Dr. ishoo’s advice. This ensures that you get the most benefit from treatment. It also can help avoid skin irritation and other side effects.
After your melasma clears, you may need to keep treating your skin. Maintenance therapy can prevent melasma from returning.
You can help prevent your melasma from returning by wearing sunscreen and a wide-brimmed hat every day.
Melasma: Tips to Make It Less Noticeable from Dr. Ishoo on Vimeo.
Melasma is a common skin problem that causes brown to gray-brown patches on the face. Although the exact causes of melasma are unclear, common triggers include sun exposure, pregnancy, birth control pills, and cosmetics.
If you have melasma, dermatologists recommend the following tips for achieving a more even skin tone:
If you have been diagnosed with melasma or suspect you have melasma, contact Boston Cosmetic Specialists today for a complementary consultation and skin analysis with Dr. Edwin Ishoo to discuss available treatments for melasma, such as prescription medications or in-office procedures.