Oct 17, 2023 · While melasma is fueled by UV light, just like sunspots, and influenced by hormones, as with acne and the marks it leaves behind, melasma is far harder to squelch. In fact, the devices commonly used to eviscerate the discoloration associated with those issues tend to make melasma worse by virtue of their heat, which can spark more pigment ...

Aug 25, 2023 · In deep skin tones, there is an increased risk that IPL will target normal endogenous skin pigment and lead to post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. Since heat aggravates melasma, the treatment often worsens the skin condition instead of improving it, and there are even some cases of melasma being brought on by IPL.

Jul 6, 2021 · Improving melasma requires ongoing professional and topical treatments, in combination with diligent sunscreen use and sun avoidance. Results from even the best treatments won't hold if patients don’t apply (and reapply) sunscreen with an SPF of 30+ every day. These are the melasma treatment options that doctors and RealSelf members say work ...

Aug 25, 2023 · The hormone-melasma connection is similarly complex, but as board-certified Medford, Oregon, dermatologist Dr. Laurel Geraghty summarizes, our melanocytes “have their own estrogen receptors and are prompted to produce more pigment if there are a lot of hormones circulating in the body. Estrogen is believed to be the primary hormonal culprit ...

Sep 20, 2012 · Melasma treatments should be tailored to each patient according the type of melasma. Majority of patients will have mixed dermal and epidermal melasma. Approach melasma as a medical condition and not a cosmetic concern, and …

Aug 9, 2009 · In our experience, we have found the Perfect Derma Peel for Melasma works very well. The active ingredients are: TCA, Retinoic Acid, Salicylic Acid, Kojic Acids, Phenol, Glutathione and Vitamin C. So with the cell turnover you also have antioxidants that inhibit melanin production and brighten the skin.

Aug 7, 2023 · Melasma is more common in women, as it’s often triggered by hormonal changes such as pregnancy, and it typically affects facial skin. Since hyperpigmentation can be caused and exacerbated by UV light, which stimulates skin’s melanin production, the first step in treating or preventing it is wearing sunscreen.

Aug 25, 2023 · What causes melasma? Unlike other common forms of pigmentation, melasma can be triggered by hormones, says Dr. Klein. It’s common for melasma to appear in women of childbearing age. “Probably, estrogen is the culprit,” continues Dr. Klein. According to Dr. Janiga, melasma can also be genetic.

Jul 26, 2010 · Melasma on the other hand is usually very symmetrical in nature. For example if a patient has Melasma on one cheek, they almost always have it on the other. Same for the forehead and upper lip. Melasma typically has very defined borders whereas sun damage can sometimes be fuzzy or not well defined around the borders of the spots.

Aug 7, 2023 · But for those dealing with melasma and hyperpigmentation, sun protection is paramount. “‘Hyperpigmentation’ is a broad term referring to any darkening of the skin, of which melasma is one form,” explains New York City board-certified dermatologist Dr. Kenneth Howe. “The root cause of melasma is unknown—though hormones do play a role ...