Ok, so let’s talk about the most effective melasma treatments, but before we get into it, what is melasma?
For those who haven’t heard of melasma, it is a common skin problem characterized by patches with irregular borders that are darker than a person’s skin tone. It typically appears on the face (forehead, cheeks, nose, chin, and upper lip), the chest, and other body areas frequently exposed to the sun – the forearms, neck, and shoulders.
Melasma is generally more common in women during their pregnancy (Chloasma). It’s often called “the mask of pregnancy” due to hormonal changes or hormonal medications such as birth control pills. It usually fades after the pregnancy and when hormones readjust. Hormonal changes are significant triggers for melasma, but melasma can also result from excessive sun exposure or even stress. It is also primarily found in individuals with light brown to darker skin tones.
If you have melasma, you need to understand that it’s a common skin problem that’s difficult to treat. However, advances in dermatology have led to a host of practical solutions to deal with this skin condition. You must stick strictly to your treatment plan to get the best results.
Now, we can talk about some of these popular home remedies for melasma.
Skincare Routine to Treat Melasma
An appropriate at-home skincare regime and in-clinic treatments will help prevent and fade melasma. The best defense against melasma is sunscreen, particularly a broad-spectrum sunscreen. Hydroquinone is one of the most effective melasma treatments that help to reduce the appearance of melasma by reducing pigment production and inflammation. Other ingredients that we recommend to treat melasma are skincare products containing:
- Azelaic acid
- Kojic acid
- Cysteamine
- Niacinamide.
- Licorice extract
- Vitamin C
- Mandelic acid
- Glycolic acid
- Tranexamic acid
Chemical Peels
Chemical peel is another way to treat melasma. Chemical peels are chemical masks applied on the skin to help remove layers of the epidermis that have darkened due to hyperpigmentation. Chemical peels use substances like glycolic acid, alpha-hydroxy acids, and salicylic acid that react with the dead skin cells on the skin’s outer layer to exfoliate the area gently. This triggers the healing response and encourages cell turnover for healthier skin.
Laser Treatments
Like chemical peels, laser peels reduce melasma and promote collagen and elastin growth and cell turnover. Pico lasers target the discoloration on the skin, creating tiny abrasions below the skin’s surface to break them apart. Once these discoloration particles have been shattered, your body naturally eliminates and replaces them with new and healthy skin cells. It’s the same principle as laser tattoo removal, except that it targets the naturally occurring pigmentations in your skin.
Microneedling
Microneedling is a minimally invasive procedure that uses an energy device that utilizes a grid of needles on the dermis to create microscopic tears in your skin. As your skin heals, it improves skin tone and boosts collagen production. This treatment effectively improves skin texture by allowing other ingredients to penetrate the skin surface easily. This procedure requires multiple sessions, each spaced 4 to 12 weeks apart.
Platelet-rich Plasma (PRP)
This procedure involves taking a small amount of your blood, placing the blood into a centrifuge to separate the blood into layers, and then injecting the layer of blood known as Plasma into the skin with melasma. PRP injections have been known to be effective in improving skin texture and evening out the skin’s overall tone.
Final words
Treatment for melasma can be challenging, but it’s more effective with a combination treatment plan and the right skincare products. Book an appointment with your doctor to help you with a personalized skincare formulation and the right combination treatment plan.
Regardless of the type of treatment you use, limiting your exposure to the sun is the best way to prevent the onset or worsening of melasma.
Contact Skin Clinic Robina
Skin Clinic Robina is a leading Gold Coast surgery that specialises in skin cancer treatment and cosmetic procedures. Fabulous Results. 07 5562 1300.
