Do you have melasma? You’re not alone. This common skin condition affects many people across the UK, particularly pregnant women. If you have melasma and want to learn more about this skin condition, this blog post is for you. In this article we aim to delve into all things melasma, understanding exactly what it is, why it’s caused, and the various treatment options for it.
If you’re looking to understand more about this type of hyperpigmentation, keep reading.
Understanding melasma
Melasma is a skin condition characterised by dark patches that typically appear on the face. This skin condition is a type of hyperpigmentation that usually occurs on the cheeks, forehead, nose, and upper lip. Whilst melasma is not harmful or painful, it can be a cosmetic concern for some individuals, which may affect confidence and self esteem. Melasma is more common in women, especially pregnant women, and those with dark skin tones.
The different types of melasma
There are three different types of melasma to be aware of. These are:
Epidermal melasma: This kind of melasma affects the outermost layer of skin and is usually brown in appearance
Dermal melasma: This type of melasma affects the deeper layers of the skin and is usually grey-ish in appearance.
Mixed melasma: This is when an individual has a combination of epidermal and dermal melasma. There is a mixture of brown and grey/bluish patches on the affected areas.
What causes melasma?
There are several factors that can cause melasma. Below are some of the main causes of this skin condition.
Sun exposure
Ultraviolet (UV) light from the sun stimulates the production of melanocytes, the cells in the body that produce melanin, the thing that gives skin its colour. An overproduction in melanin results in hyperpigmentation such as melasma.
Prolonged sun exposure can trigger melasma or worsen existing melasma patches. This is why it’s common for melasma to flare up during the summer months, when your skin is more exposed to the UV rays.
Hormonal changes
Another significant factor into the development of melasma is hormonal changes. Hormonal fluctuations can contribute to melasma occurring, which is why pregnant women are very prone to this skin condition. Women who are taking birth control are also prone to developing melasma.
What are the treatment options for melasma?
Topical treatments
There are several topical treatments that you can consider for melasma. A popular choice for treatment are chemical peels, these involve a chemical solution being applied to your skin. Chemical peels work by causing the top layers of the skin to peel off, revealing a fresh layer underneath.
Laser treatment
Laser treatment is a popular and effective method of treating melasma. There are several types of laser treatment available to help treat melasma, one of them is called Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) therapy.
IPL involves using light energy to target and break up melanin cells, to help reduce the appearance of melasma.
