Melasma
Melasma is an acquired hypermelanosis of sun-exposed areas. It is a common skin condition. The name comes from the word ‘melas’ in Greek which also meant black in colour. This condition commonly plagues females more than males and presents in the form of dark brown patches on the face, usually on the forehead, cheeks, and jawline. Although it is not harmful, it often causes distress to many women. As a result of that, some individuals suffer from low self-confidence.
Melasma occurs when there is overstimulation to the melanocyte (melanin producing) cell, within this cell the melanosomes produce excess pigment and then deposit the pigment into neighbouring skin cells (keratinocytes) resulting in dark brown patches of skin.
The contributing factors are:
- Darker skin phototype
- Ultraviolet radiation
- Hormonal factors (e.g pregnancy, oral contraceptives)
- Genetic predisposition
- Antiepileptic medications.
The most common areas of melasma on the face includes
- Bridge of the nose
- Forehead
- Cheeks
- Upper lip
Melasma may also appear in other areas of the body, especially those exposed to a lot of sun exposure. These areas may include:
- Forearms
- Neck
- Shoulders
What are the Melasma treatments?
Knowing the severity of melasma you have will determine the treatment. Melasma is not the pigmentation that you see from the naked eye. There are a lot of criteria that need to be considered before the treatment is advised e.g. the redness of the skin determines the melasma result too. The 3D skin analysis is recommended to be taken before the consultation and assessment with our doctor.
Our clinic offers various melasma treatment which includes:
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