Treatment for Melasma

From heartburn to swollen limbs, pregnancy—for all of its joys—also delivers its share of physical and mental miseries. One side effect of pregnancy is melasma, or darkening of the skin on the face and neck. If this embarrassing condition makes you want to hide behind a mask, don’t despair. You can find treatment for melasma.

Although melasma is common in pregnant women, it can be caused by other hormonal changes, too. Some women see the patches pop up as a side effect of birth control pills. Other medications can cause melasma as well.

Click Here for a Step-by-Step Guide to Get Rid of Melasma

It typically affects people with darker skin tones, especially those with Latin, Indian, Middle-Eastern, or Mediterranean ancestry. Although an estimated 90% of all melasma sufferers are women, men can experience it as well.

If you’re not sure the patches or spots are caused by melasma, be sure to contact your health care professional for an evaluation.

Sometimes melasma resolves itself on its own, but often it does not. However, if those dark spots don’t resolve on their own it’s time to find a treatment for melasma.

One way to banish those blotches is hydroquinone, which works by reducing the amount of pigment the skin cells produce. It comes in cream form and is applied directly to dark spots and patches.

This bleaching agent does have potential risks. Because of questions regarding hydroquinone’s role in increased cancer risks, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration limited the amount of the ingredient that manufacturers can use in both over-the-counter and prescription skin lighteners. Some studies also suggest it might play a role in malfunctioning adrenal glands and increasing the body’s levels of mercury, a toxic heavy metal. Scary stuff.

Laser surgery, performed by a qualified doctor or dermatologist, is another way to treat melasma. While some patients report good results from this in-office treatment, it can take several visits over a three- to four-month period.

In addition, you may need to recover for up to a few days after each laser treatment—that’s an awful lot of downtime. It’s probably more downtime than most of us can afford to take. The procedure can also make the skin swollen and red. Laser melasma surgery can also be painful and may require pain-reducing medication.

Chemical peels are another common treatment for melasma. A health care professional will use a substance like glycolic acid or azelaic acid to peel away the discolored layers of skin. Many peels are done in a series of treatments over a period of weeks. This treatment isn’t for everyone though. It can make the skin pink and raw, which can be especially distressing if you have a dark skin tone.

You might also consider microdermabrasion to get rid of those unsightly blotches. This treatment is essentially a high-tech way to get rid of the uppermost layer of skin. A technician will spray a hard substance, such as diamond chips or fine crystals, across the surface of the skin.

The downside? Microdermabrasion can be expensive—up to $200 per session. Also, it’s not considered a medical procedure, so it’s important to make sure the person performing your treatment is a qualified technician.

The good news is that you may not need to rely on heavy chemicals, medical procedures, or overpriced spa treatments. You owe it to yourself to at least consider natural options that reveal the skin tone you want. In fact, you may even be able to find ingredients at your local grocery store that can lighten skin without embarrassing side effects

No matter which treatment for melasma you choose, it’s critical that you prevent it from appearing again by protecting your skin from sunlight. Use sunscreen with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide every day, even when it’s cloudy. If you wear makeup, you may also want to consider using cosmetics with added sun protection.

You’ve lived with melasma long enough. It’s time to reveal the clear, even-toned skin you deserve.