You don’t need to be a supermodel or a celebrity to want to look and feel good. There is a direct correlation between the two. However, when you suffer from melasma, a form of hyperpigmentation, this can feel like an upward struggle. Unsightly patches of skin darker than your normal skin tone can be very distressing. While it is heartening to note that there are no serious diseases or health risks associated with the condition, it can still put a dent in how you feel about yourself.

If you have melasma already or are worried you could potentially get it in the future you may be wondering how you can treat it. There is not one single best treatment for melasma. Rather, the best way to treat melasma is with a combination of sun protection and prescribed medications that you apply directly to your skin.

What is melasma

A common and very stubborn form of hyperpigmentation, melasma causes patches on your skin, usually around your face, that is darker than your normal skin tone. The name is taken from the Greek word for black “melas”. It is normal for people with skin that is light brown or darker in tone, particularly those from areas where their exposure to the sun is high. Women are especially susceptible, often during or after pregnancy.

These brown patches most commonly appear on the face, around the forehead, cheeks, upper lip, nose bridge, and chin. Though they can also appear on the shoulders, neck, and forearms.

What causes melasma?

Unfortunately, there is no clear understanding of why melasma occurs. There are theories. For example, it could be caused by the melanocytes malfunctioning. The melanocytes are the colour-making cells in the skin. The malfunctioning causes the production of too much colour in certain areas.

While the direct cause may not be clear, several risk factors can come into play and result in you developing melasma. These include

Frequent sun exposure – frequent exposure to the UV rays from the sun is often responsible for triggering melasma

Skin colour – there is clear evidence that melasma occurs commonly in people who have light brown or darker skin tones and those who live in areas where there is a lot of direct sunlight.

Female – melasma reportedly affects females around 9 times more than it does men.

Pregnancy – this form of hyperpigmentation is commonly suffered by women who are either pregnant or have just given birth. This has led many experts to believe it could be related to the hormones produced during pregnancy.

Genetics – a startling 50% of people who suffer from melasma have stated that they have close relatives who also have the skin condition.

With the risk factors in mind, some things can trigger melasma that you need to be aware of, such as:

Hormonal changes during pregnancy
Hormonal treatment or birth control pills
Regular and direct sun exposure
Some skin care products, specifically, those that cause skin irritations
Certain medications, such as anti-seizure medications, increase the skin’s sensitivity to sunlight, like retinoids, some antibiotics, and blood pressure medication.

Is melasma painful?

The good news is that, no, melasma is not painful or even itchy. It is more painful emotionally and psychologically.

Is melasma a form of skin cancer?

It is very important to keep in mind that even though it can be aggravated and triggered by direct sunlight melasma is not related to nor is it a type of skin cancer. However, it can often be mistaken for other, more serious skin conditions. Therefore, it is a good idea to have your condition properly diagnosed by a dermatologist, just to rule out the possibility of it being skin cancer or something else.

Can melasma be prevented?

At the moment, there is no way to prevent melasma in people who are prone to developing this form of hyperpigmentation because of sun exposure, hormones, skin colour type, or genetics. You can reduce your chances of developing the condition by avoiding exposure to direct sunlight from 10 am to 4 pm, using very high-SPF sunscreens and trying to avoid taking hormonal medications if possible.

Can melasma be cured?

The short answer to the question is that no there is currently no cure available for melasma. There are, however, medications and special procedures that can help to manage it.

How to treat melasma

It is often the case that melasma will go away all by itself. This usually happens if something triggers melasma, such as medication or pregnancy and when you stop the medication or give birth, the condition starts to fade away.

It is unfortunate though that for some people melasma lasts for many years and even for life. Understandably, while it may not be painful or itchy, you may still want to get rid of it. You must speak to a dermatologist if you want to treat melasma, as they will be able to develop a treatment plan that meets your specific needs and lifestyle. The plan will take into consideration your natural skin tone, the depth the melasma reaches the different layers of your skin and anything that you know can trigger melasma.

The goals of melasma treatment are generally:

Decreasing the amount of pigment your body produces
Evening out your skin tone, and restoring it to its natural colour and tone

Plan for treatment of melasma

The treatment plan may feature:

Sun protection – this is the mainstay and foundation of any melasma treatment plan. Sunlight is responsible for triggering the skin’s natural production of pigment, which darkens any existing melasma and produces new patches.

The dermatologist you speak to should provide you with a plan for how to protect your skin from the sun. Wearing a wide-brimmed hat when you are outdoors and seeking shade whenever you can while wearing sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher and topping it up throughout the day.

It is often recommended that you find and use sunscreens that also contain ingredients like:

Iron oxide
Titanium dioxide
Zinc oxide

Procedures and medication

In addition to the above directions for good habits when outdoors and exposed to the sun, it is common for dermatologists also to prescribe medications or suggest procedures to help treat melasma.

Some of the medications that can be prescribed include:

Hydroquinone
Tretinoin with a mild corticosteroid
Triple combination topical cream
For stubborn cases of melasma, procedures that can be used include:
Platelet-rich plasma
Laser and intense light treatments
Microneedling
Chemical peels

Conclusion

Melasma may not be dangerous, painful or even irritating or itchy. However, when you have this type of hyperpigmentation, it is understandable that your self-confidence and self-esteem can take a huge knock. If you suffer from melasma and are looking for an effective treatment of melasma, as we have shown there is no one treatment but rather a complete treatment plan that will work best.

Whether you try medication or a more intensive form of treatment, one of the most effective ways to stop making melasma worse is by exercising good habits when in the sun. This means wearing a powerful sunscreen at all times and applying it regularly throughout the day.

There may not be a cure for melasma at the moment, but it is clear that there are several different treatment options. It’s important to listen to your dermatologist and to have reasonable expectations regarding the effectiveness of these treatment options. Makeup and other forms of skin cream can also be used as a coverup.