What You Need To Know About Melasma
Reviewed by, Kaedoc Medical Team
Melasma on face. DermNet / CC BY-NC-NDOwner​
Melasma is a common skin pigmentation issue that causes dark, blotchy, and uneven skin tone on sun-exposed areas, chiefly on the face.[1]
Although it's medically harmless, for many people the discoloration affects their appearance and the way they feel about it.
Symptoms
Dark Patches on Face
Melasma causes hyperpigmentation or discolored marks that are darker than your surrounding skin. The skin looks blotchy and uneven, with irregular borders on the discolored spots.[2]
Appears on Sun-Exposed Skin
Melasma develops on sun-exposed areas of the skin, most often the face. Above the upper lip, across the cheeks, nose, and forehead are all very common areas to find it, but melasma can develop anywhere on the face. It also can develop on the chest, upper arms, and upper back, though not as frequently[3]
Painless
These areas of discoloration don't hurt, burn, or itch. In fact, you won't notice anything different about these areas of skin aside from the fact they're discolored
Causes
Exact causes of melasma is not known but it happens when the color-making cells in the skin produce too much color.
Risk Factors
You're at an increased risk of developing melasma when you have more of the following risk factors:
Diagnosis
Melasma diagnosis is done by a simple visual inspection by your healthcare provider. They may alaso take a look at your skin under a wood's lamp that uses ultraviolet light for closer examination of the skin. In rare caes, a doctor mat want to take a small piece of your skin (biopsy) to make sure that the brown patches are melasma.
Treatment
Melasma isn't a harmful or contagious conditions, in some cases the discoloration may fade overtime. This is most likely to happen if the melasma appered during pregnancy.
If melasma does not fade away on itself and you choose treatment, the dermatologist will help you devise the best long-term treatment plan for your skin.
Prescription Topical Medications
Topical prescription medications are the mainstay of melasma treatment. Depending on what your healthcare provider decides is best for you, you may be prescribed:
Procedural Treatments
In some cases, in-office procedures may be used to treat melasma. These are often used alongside other topical treatments.
Prevention
The best way to avoid melasma or allow treatments to work at best is to avoid over exposure to the sun without protection. The sun is a huge factor when it comes to melasma development. Apply sunscreen of 30 SPF or higher daily. You should apply sunscreen every day as part of your skincare routine, even when it's cloudy or you're only spending limited time outdoors
References
- 1. Grimes PE. Melasma: Epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical presentation, and diagnosis UpToDate.
- 2. Handel AC, Miot LDB, Miot HA. Melasma: a clinical and epidemiological review. An Bras Dermatol. 2014;89(5):771-782. doi:10.1590/abd1806-4841.20143063
- 3. American Academy of Dermatology. Melasma: signs and symptoms.