Pigmentation is often treated as one issue when, in reality, it’s a blanket term that covers different types of medical pigmentation issues including sunspots, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation and, of course, melasma. Due to the high incidence of melasma in pregnant women – with up to 50% of pregnancies triggering it – this form of pigmentation is often known as ‘the mask of pregnancy’.
What is Melasma?
Often dark brown or grey in colour, melasma is a form of pigmentation that presents itself on the areas of the face most exposed to UV rays, including the forehead, upper lip, and cheeks. As with most pigmentation issues, those with darker skin tones are more susceptible as they have higher levels of melanin, to begin with.
What Causes Melasma?
While the exact cause of melasma is still a mystery, what we do know for sure is that hormones play a key role in triggering it. Because of this, hormone replacement therapy, birth control, and pregnancy are agreed upon as the three most common triggers of melasma. When caused by pregnancy, melasma often goes away on its own following the birth of the baby, but in some cases, it becomes permanent or frequently reoccurs during the summer months due to increased exposure to UV rays.
Prolonged exposure to UV rays and the use of sunbeds can also trigger melasma, and worsen existing cases.
How to Treat Melasma
Melasma can be treated using the same medical procedures as any form of pigmentation issue. Here at the Laser Treatment Clinic, we offer a number of different methods of medical treatments for pigmentation issues, including melasma.
Our Derma White treatment is an excellent choice for those with darker skin tones looking to treat their melasma as it is effective enough to treat the pigmentation but gentle enough to not cause any further hyperpigmentation
We also offer advanced dermabrasion and collagen induction therapy for the treatment of pigmentation issues like melasma, along with the Nd: YAG laser.
As each case of melasma is different, the most effective way to treat this type of pigmentation is to book a free consultation with one of our skin experts. They will be able to talk you through the different medical treatment options and devise an individual treatment plan based on your skin type and the severity of your melasma.
When it comes to melasma, it’s important that you also wear a broad spectrum SPF during and following your treatment as even brief sun exposure can trigger a reoccurrence.
