What do you know about melasma? How can the complications caused by it be treated? Do you know home remedies for it? This disease is common in women. Melasma is a pigmented condition that is completely benign and difficult to treat due to its chronic nature. With the right and appropriate treatment, Behbon patients will get better and in certain cases, they will get a complete result from their condition. Have you noticed the discoloration of your facial skin? You are not alone. Melasma is a surprisingly common pigmentation problem with nearly 6 million women in the United States suffering from it. In this article from the section Beauty And diseasesHello doctor, we will investigate this matter.
What is melasma?
Melasma is a chronic pigmented disease in which patches of dark, smooth skin appear on the face. Patients often have gray or brown patches on their forehead, cheeks, nose line and upper lip that are caused by sunlight, pregnancy and Contraceptive pills Complaining escalates. Although all skin types are susceptible to melasma, people with darker skin have been shown to have a higher risk.
Signs and symptoms of melasma
The first signs of melasma are a gray or brown mask-like appearance of the skin on the forehead, nose, cheeks, upper lip, and chin. Although the affected people are mostly women, the pattern is the same for every person. While these colorless patches of skin do not itch and are not painful, they are unsightly and for this reason patients often seek treatments to get rid of them. If you find darker patches on your skin that are tender, scaly, painful, and itchy, be sure to consult your healthcare practitioner and inform them of your symptoms, especially the more serious conditions that may be causing it. Pigmentation changes.
Who gets this disease?
Those who are at risk of developing this disease have all or some of the following factors.
- family history
- Hormonal changes
- pregnancy
- Starting or changing the use of birth control pills
- Initiation or hormonal changes and alternative therapy
- Irregular use of sunscreen with inappropriate SPF (especially in direct sunlight)
- medicines
- Irritation from topical treatments or skin care products
40% of patients who suffer from melasma have a family history of pigmentation (for example, their mother, sister or grandmother were affected). Check your family tree to see if others in your family have the same skin condition. Doing so will help you diagnose yourself or suggest a health care practitioner who can give you valuable information and help diagnose your condition.
The relationship between pregnancy and melasma is still under investigation. But interesting facts have been discovered from the studies collected so far. High levels of hormones such as estrogen, progesterone and melanocortin that increase during pregnancy are the main factors that lead to melasma in pregnant women. Of course, there are positive aspects of melasma related to hormonal issues in women:
The prevalence of melasma decreases after the age of 50, which is related to the decrease in the amount and activity of pigment cells in the skin. Because of the control of birth control pills, other drugs that make the skin appear darker, or cause skin sensitivity, include:
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS)
- Phenytoin
- Antimalarial
- amiodarone
- Cystotoxic drugs
- Antipsychotic
- Tenracycline antibiotic
Sunscreens are an important and vital treatment for melasma. As a person who has seen a variety of medical and cosmetic conditions almost every day, regardless of the patient’s skin color, the skin is irritated and at risk of darkening the pigment. For example, I have seen several patients with skin sensitivity and irritation who developed melasma by using tanning products in the right or wrong conditions.
Melasma in men
As melasma is often seen in women, it is also common in men. Studies have shown that men are affected to a lesser extent by the same factors above. Men’s treatments are similar to women’s.
Treatment of this disease and its prevention
For some time, sunscreen is what clears up melasma. For people who can’t wait, there are a few treatments to speed up the healing process.
Hydroquinone:
A topical treatment that is purchased over the counter in lower doses and with a prescription in higher doses. Melasma treatment is recognized as the gold standard. However, there are newer treatments that have been proven to be successful in treating melasma.
Prescription retinoids and corticosteroids are used to treat HQ. Drugs such as tazarotene and tretinoin can be combined with HQ or corticocortisol, which is called triple therapy. Some patients have seen improvements in their melasma after using azaleaic acid prescription.
Azelaic acid is used to treat acne, anti-aging and dark skin marks. The common side effects of retinoid are dryness and burning of the skin, which leads to itching or burning of the skin and darkening of the skin in case of improper protection. There are many procedures that can achieve good results in a dermatologist’s office.
Just don’t neglect the risks and post-operative care. So you should avoid negative reactions or risks that worsen your situation. Such processes include chemical peels and dermabrasion. Ultimately, preventing melasma is the key to maintaining successful treatment. Regularly renew the sunscreen and it is necessary to protect your skin from the sun’s rays that lead to hyperpigmentation.
The American Academy of Dermatology recommends using sunscreen with SPF 30 every two hours for special protection. SPF 30 provides about 97% protection from the sun’s harmful rays. While SPF 45 provides about 98%. It is impossible for SPF to provide 100% protection.
So don’t believe the ads. Preventing and reducing the exacerbation of melasma without sexual restrictions is only one thing: sunscreen! You protect your face, arms, neck, etc. and with daily use and proper maintenance, results will appear over time. Most importantly, take care of yourself and invest in healthy skin.
Melasma treatment (advantages and disadvantages):
Not everyone needs melasma treatment. In many cases, it is cured by itself. However, in some cases, melasma takes years to heal or never heals. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends that if melasma does not clear up on its own or that women on birth control pills follow the steps below.
1) Hydroquinone: In cream, lotion, gel or liquid form
- Advantages: Very effective (considered the gold standard of melasma treatment) and can be purchased without a prescription.
- Disadvantages: These products are not available as often as your specialist prescribes.
2) Tretinoin and corticosteroid prescribed by your dermatologist
- Advantages: Can be administered as part of hydroquinone and is suitable for patients who do not respond to hydroquinone alone (triple cream).
- Disadvantages: It causes dryness and irritation of the skin, which leads to itching or burning, if the treatment site is left unprotected, it causes the skin to darken.
3) other topical drugs (azelaic acid)
- Benefits: Helps treat melasma.
- Disadvantages: It has side effects such as superficial itching and dangerous allergic reaction. Therefore, before using azaleaic acid, it is essential to talk to your doctor and do a skin patch test to make sure you are not allergic to the drug.
4) In-office treatments
- Benefits: Can be helpful if topical medications do not relieve melasma.
- Disadvantages: It costs more and cannot be done at home. If the person doing it does not consider the patient’s skin type, it can cause skin problems for the person.
