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What is melasma?
Melasma is a skin condition that causes patches of pigmentation usually on the face, which are darker than your natural skin tone. It can cause tan, brown, grayish brown, or bluish gray patches and freckle-like spots. These usually appear on certain areas of face like the cheeks, forehead, chin, and even above the upper lip.
What causes melasma?
The exact cause is not known. It’s thought to be because pigment-producing cells in the skin (melanocytes) start producing too much pigment (melanin). Several factors can contribute to developing melasma, including pregnancy and using hormonal drugs such as birth control pills and hormone replacement.
So how can we prevent melasma?
Choosing an appropriate sunscreen is critical if you develop melasma, and studies have shown that broad-spectrum tinted sunscreens, especially ones containing iron oxide, can lower pigment production in the skin in melasma patients, as they block visible light as well as UVA/UVB rays. Non-tinted sunscreens, on the other hand, do not block visible light.
It is important for people with melasma to know that visible light can go through windows, and therefore even if they are not out in the sun, they can still get melasma flares by exposing themselves to visible light while driving or sitting by a window.
What can help to Resolve Melasma
In conjunction with using a sunscreen. There are various topical creams which can help
reduce the pigmentation.
Creams
Hydroquinone cream is the gold standard. It physically blocks the production of melanocyte stopping the dark patches.
Tretinoin can be useful and even better results are found combining the two.
Topical vitamin C has also been shown to help even out pigmentation and both this and hydroquinone have a blocking effect on the tyrosinase pathway to reduce melanin production.
20% azelaic acid gel has also been shown to improve the pigmentation associated with melasma. Other newer agents such as arbutin, which is a derivative of hydroquinone, Kojic acid and Liquiritin are gaining popularity.
Facials
WOW fusion White is formulated using the best scientifically-proven ingredients to fight and prevent pigmentation, from skin brightening ingredients like High Dose Vitamin C and Liquorice Root Extracts, to revitalising ones including Glycolic Acid and Azelaic acid, all the way to melanin inhibitors such as Morus Alba Extract and Glutathione.”
Microneedling in conjunction with serums can have a lightening effect on the skin.
BioRePeel’s exfoliating and keratolytic action removes the outer corneal skin cell layers to effectively prevent the ageing of the skin, decrease damage from UV light, as well as decreasing pigmentation. It also stimulates cell turnover by and stimulating the production of collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid.
Results
From using the Obagi Nuderm System for 12 weeks which combines hydroquinone and tretinoin.
How can I help?
Book in for a skincare consultation and we can discuss what will work best for you. This could be a stand alone treatment or a combination of things. This can be done face to face or also video consultations are available.
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