What is melasma? What causes it? How can it be treated? Get the answers to these questions and more in this comprehensive article.

Understanding Melasma: What is it?

Melasma is a common skin condition characterized by the appearance of brown or grayish-brown patches on the skin, typically on the forehead, cheeks, upper lip, and nose. It is sometimes referred to as the “mask of pregnancy” because it can be triggered by hormonal changes during pregnancy. However, melasma is not limited to pregnant women and can affect individuals of all ages and genders.

Causes of Melasma: Unraveling the Mysteries

Melasma is a multifactorial condition, with several potential causes. The primary factors that can contribute to the development of melasma include:

• Hormonal changes: Fluctuations in hormone levels, such as those experienced during pregnancy, the use of contraceptives, or hormone replacement therapy, can trigger the overproduction of melanin, leading to melasma.
• Sun exposure: Ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun can stimulate the production of melanin, exacerbating the appearance of melasma.
• Genetic predisposition: Some individuals may be more prone to developing melasma due to their genetic makeup.
• Thyroid disorders: Imbalances in thyroid hormone levels have been linked to the development of melasma in some cases.

Identifying Melasma: How to Recognize the Condition

Melasma typically appears as brown or grayish-brown patches on the skin, often symmetrically distributed on the face. These patches are irregular in shape and can range in size from small to quite large. The condition is most commonly seen on the forehead, cheeks, upper lip, and nose, but can also affect other sun-exposed areas of the body.

Diagnosing Melasma: The Role of Dermatologists

Diagnosing melasma is usually a straightforward process for dermatologists. They may use a Wood’s lamp, a specialized device that uses ultraviolet light, to help differentiate melasma from other pigmentary disorders. In some cases, they may also perform a skin biopsy to rule out other conditions.

Treating Melasma: Effective Strategies

While there is no permanent cure for melasma, there are several effective treatment options that can help reduce the appearance of the discolored patches:

1. Sun protection: Consistent use of broad-spectrum sunscreen and sun-protective clothing is essential in managing melasma, as sun exposure can exacerbate the condition.
2. Topical treatments: Prescription creams containing ingredients like hydroquinone, retinoids, or corticosteroids can help reduce the appearance of melasma.
3. Chemical peels: Gentle chemical peels, such as those containing glycolic acid or kojic acid, can help improve the appearance of melasma by removing the discolored skin.
4. Laser therapy: In some cases, laser treatments, such as those using Q-switched or fractional lasers, can effectively reduce the appearance of melasma.
5. Oral medications: In certain cases, dermatologists may prescribe oral medications, such as tranexamic acid or oral contraceptives, to help manage melasma.

Preventing Melasma: Strategies for Long-term Management

To prevent the recurrence of melasma or to avoid the development of new discolored patches, it is crucial to adopt a comprehensive approach:

• Consistent sun protection: Regularly using broad-spectrum sunscreen and wearing sun-protective clothing can help minimize the impact of UV exposure on melasma.
• Hormonal balance: Maintaining a healthy hormonal balance, whether through lifestyle changes or medical interventions, can help reduce the risk of melasma flare-ups.
• Skin care routine: Incorporating melasma-friendly products, such as those containing kojic acid or vitamin C, into your daily skincare routine can help manage the condition.
• Regular dermatologist visits: Maintaining regular checkups with a dermatologist can help monitor the progression of melasma and ensure timely and appropriate treatment interventions.

The Impact of Melasma: Understanding the Psychological Toll

Melasma can have a significant impact on an individual’s self-esteem and quality of life. The visible nature of the discolored patches can lead to feelings of self-consciousness, embarrassment, and even social withdrawal. It is essential for individuals with melasma to seek support from their healthcare providers, as well as from friends and family, to manage the psychological impact of the condition.

In conclusion, melasma is a common and challenging skin condition that can have a significant impact on an individual’s appearance and well-being. By understanding the causes, seeking proper diagnosis and treatment, and adopting preventive measures, individuals with melasma can regain control over their skin and improve their overall quality of life.

5 skin spots you shouldn’t worry about

Some spots caused by aging and sun exposure are benign, while others need medical attention. Learn the difference.

 If you’ve recently spent any time in the sun, you may have noticed that you have a few more spots—brown or tan or white—on the exposed parts of your body. Even if you always use sun protection now, you can still develop skin changes caused by sun exposure decades ago. The good news is that most of these will not be cancerous. However, distinguishing benign spots from those that warrant medical attention can be somewhat tricky. Though the following are caused by sun exposure, they won’t progress to cancer.

1. Freckles

If you’ve had freckles since you were a kid, you no doubt know how they behave—darkening in the sun and heat and fading in the winter. Freckles themselves are not a cause for worry, but they signal an increased risk of developing skin cancer.

2. Melasma

This condition, marked by irregular dark patches, is more common in women and may appear in one’s 20s and 30s. The patches are often triggered by excessive sun exposure and intensified by changes in hormone levels associated with contraceptives, pregnancy, or postmenopausal hormone therapy. Low levels of thyroid hormone may also contribute. Melasma can affect people with all skin types and become darker with sun exposure. It may disappear during menopause as estrogen and progesterone levels decline.

3. Lentigines

These are commonly called “age spots” or “liver spots.” They are irregular in shape, larger than freckles, and vary from tan to very dark brown. They occur in sun-exposed skin. Some are direct consequences of severe sunburns. They are common in people of all skin types.

4. Seborrheic keratoses

These are usually round, dark, and raised. They are often described as appearing to be stuck on, like a piece of gum. If you’re unsure whether you have a seborrheic keratosis or a melanoma, see a dermatologist.

5. “White spots”

The medical term for these small smooth spots is idiopathic guttate hypo-melanoses. Women are more likely than men to have this condition and usually develop it after age 40, usually on areas of the body exposed to the sun.

What should you do about them?

There is no medical reason to treat any of the above, but scores of over-the-counter products are promoted for reducing the appearance of dark spots or improving skin tone. This is a buyer-beware situation, because these products are cosmetics rather than prescription drugs, their manufacturers don’t have to demonstrate their effectiveness.

However, dermatologists have several proven techniques for treating dark and light skin patches, including chemical peels and prescription ointments containing hydroquinone or retinoic acid. Laser therapy can be effective for dark spots. All of these treatments are considered cosmetic, so your insurance won’t pay for them.

When to see a dermatologist

Check your skin regularly for moles that are new, growing, changing, or irregular in shape and color. They could be a sign of melanoma, the deadliest skin cancer, and should be checked by a dermatologist as soon as possible. If melanoma runs in your family or if you have more than 40 moles, have used tanning beds, or have had several sunburns, you’re at increased risk and should have your skin checked regularly by a dermatologist.

Solar, or actinic, keratoses also warrant a trip to the dermatologist because they can progress to a form of cancer called squamous cell carcinoma. They are red, pink, tan, or clear bumps that often feel rough or scaly. They may also appear as sandpapery patches that are hard to distinguish from the surrounding skin, except by touch. Although not quite as deadly as melanoma, squamous cell skin cancer can grow deep into surrounding tissue and can occasionally spread to other parts of the body.

You should see a dermatologist if you find any new growths or skin changes that last for more than a couple of weeks. The American Academy of Dermatology’s website has tools to help you spot suspicious growths. Go to www.aad.org and click “Spot skin cancer.”

Image: Goodboy Picture Company/Getty Images

Unmasking the causes and treatments of melasma

This challenging skin condition causes dark patches on the skin that can last for years.

By October, your summer tan is probably almost gone, but a glance in the mirror may still show some darkened patches on your skin that seem to be sticking around. These brown or grayish-brown blotches, typically on the forehead, chin, cheeks, upper lip, or nose, may signal a condition called melasma.

Melasma is sometimes referred to as the mask of pregnancy, because it is sometimes triggered by an increase in hormones in pregnant women. But while the condition may be common among pregnant women, it isn’t limited to them.

“It’s not only associated with pregnancy, but can affect women at all stages of life,” says Dr. Shadi Kourosh, director of the Pigmentary Disorder and Multi-Ethnic Skin Clinic at Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts General Hospital. And it may last for many years. “Women who develop melasma in their teens or 20s or 30s may see it stay around for decades,” says Dr. Barbara Gilchrest, senior lecturer on dermatology at Harvard Medical School.

A persistent and vexing condition

While melasma isn’t painful and doesn’t present any health risks, it can cause significant emotional distress for the estimated six million American women who develop these dark patches on their faces. The condition can be difficult to treat, and there’s a lot of misinformation out there about what causes it, says Dr. Kourosh.

You’re more likely to get melasma if you have a darker skin type, probably because your skin naturally has more active pigment-producing cells, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. Melasma appears when these cells become hyperactive and produce too much pigment in certain areas of the skin. The mechanism is similar to what causes brown age spots and freckles, but melasma patches tend to be larger.

Melasma is more common in women, but it can also affect men. It may have a genetic component, as it often runs in families.

Melasma has a lot of different causes, says Dr. Kourosh. Two in particular stand out:

Hormones (including hormonal medications). Fluctuations in certain hormones can cause melasma, which is why it commonly occurs during pregnancy. Melasma may also occur when you either start or stop hormonal contraception, including birth control pills, or when you take hormone replacement therapy, says Dr. Gilchrest.

Sun exposure. The sun is the big culprit in triggering melasma. “Underlying factors such as hormonal changes may not manifest until a person goes on vacation to a southern location like Florida, or during the summertime when she spends more time in the sun,” says Dr. Kourosh. “The sun is the major exacerbating factor, whatever the underlying cause.” Melasma can be caused or worsened by not only the sun’s rays, but also heat and visible light. This means that even sunscreens that protect against skin cancer aren’t enough to ward off melasma, says Dr. Kourosh. This makes treating melasma a challenge, particularly in the summer months.

Treating melasma

The first step in treating melasma is confirming with a dermatologist that your darkened skin patches are indeed melasma, and determining what’s causing it. Treating melasma is unlikely to be effective if the underlying cause isn’t addressed, says Dr. Kourosh. “Even the oral treatments that now exist for severe cases of melasma are really pointless to do if there are still triggers in place,” she says. If you’re still being exposed to exacerbating factors, you could just be on a hamster wheel, running and not getting better.

“We take a thorough medical history to find out what’s causing the melasma,” says Dr. Kourosh. Then adjustments are made. If a hormonal contraceptive is causing the problem, a woman might consider switching to a nonhormonal option, such as a copper intrauterine device.

Shun the sun

The next step in treating melasma is to prevent the sun from aggravating the condition. This may require extreme diligence. “The sun is stronger than any medicine I can give you,” says Dr. Kourosh. The most important way to clear up melasma is by using a strict sunscreen regimen. But keep in mind that not all sunscreens are created equal. To prevent against melasma, you need a sunscreen that blocks not only the sun’s rays, but also its light and heat.

There are two main types of sunscreens:

• sunscreens that use chemicals, such as oxybenzone

• sunscreens that use physical blockers, such as zinc and titanium dioxide.

“You want to choose the non-chemical, blocking sunscreen, because that will stop all the light and different wavelengths from coming through,” says Dr. Kourosh. Luckily, these sunscreens have come a long way from older formulations that sat on your skin in a greasy, white layer. Today’s zinc and titanium dioxide formulas are micronized so they can sink into the skin, while still offering the same protection. You can buy them at your doctor’s office, skin care stores, or even the drugstore. “I’m not loyal to any specific brand,” says Dr. Kourosh.

Chemical sunscreens don’t offer the same protection for melasma, and in some instances, they may even trigger allergic reactions that can make melasma worse, she says.

You can provide added protection to your skin by following up with makeup that contains a second sunscreen to further block out the sun’s rays. Even in the fall and winter it’s a good idea to wear a hat that is designed to provide sun protection, if you’re going to be outside for an extended period of time.

Medications and topical treatments

Your dermatologist may prescribe medications or topical treatments to help lighten melasma. Some commonly used options are topical retinols and retinoid treatments, which are applied to the skin to help speed your body’s natural cell turnover process. This may help dark patches clear more quickly than they would on their own.

In addition, some doctors may prescribe bleaching agents, such as hydroquinone, which works by blocking melanin production. But while products with hydroquinone can be purchased over the counter, they should only be used under a doctor’s care — and only on the darkened areas of the skin.

“Higher concentrations of hydroquinone can cause white spots to develop on the skin,” says Dr. Gilchrest. The medication may even cause a darkening of the skin in some cases.

Your dermatologist might also recommend kojic acid or azelaic acid, which are other topical skin lightening agents, she says.

Other treatments that are sometimes recommended for melasma include chemical peels, laser treatments, and skin microneedling. But at this point they’re not reliably effective, says Dr. Gilchrest.

For example, peels can work for some people. “And for some people it makes it worse. It’s very hard to predict,” says Dr. Gilchrest.

At-home treatments

There’s more you can do on your own to help your skin heal and prevent future damage. In addition to reducing sun exposure, try these steps:

Establish a good cleansing regimen. Environmental pollution can contribute to melasma, says Dr. Kourosh. Airborne pollutants can bind to the skin and corrode the protective surface, making it weaker and more susceptible to sun damage. Clean your skin every night before bed with a cleanser that can thoroughly remove particulate matter and help protect the skin, she says.

Combat skin stress with antioxidants. Vitamins C and E can help heal damage from sunlight. So, dab on a few drops of a serum that contains these vitamins to improve skin health and ward off the harmful effects of sun exposure.

Moisturize your skin regularly. Use a good moisturizer after the serum to restore the lipid (fat) barrier of the skin, which helps to protect it from damage.

Be patient. Even with treatment, it may take months for melasma to clear up. There’s no overnight fix.

Be diligent. Melasma will be quick to return if you’re not careful about sun protection. So, long-term maintenance requires an ongoing commitment to protecting your skin.

Image: © TanyaLovus/Getty Images

Age spots on the body: treatment, causes, symptoms

Age spots are harmless and do not cause any particular inconvenience, except that they spoil the appearance and contribute to the development of complexes and self-doubt. To understand how to deal with them, in this article we will first find out the reasons for their appearance, and then we will figure out how to get rid of unnecessary pigmentation.

What are age spots?

Age spots are flat, often rounded, areas of the skin that differ in color from the rest of the skin and stand out on it. If you find a spot on your body that differs in color from the rest of the skin, then this is a pigment spot. There may be several such spots.

So why do these spots appear? First of all, this is due to the fact that skin pigmentation is impaired.

Causes of hyperpigmentation.

In men and women, pigmented formations appear for several reasons.

• Exposure to UV rays in a solarium or outdoors. Due to the fact that when exposed to ultraviolet rays, the skin synthesizes melanin, just a tan appears. But, if you abuse the stay in the sun or in the solarium, then there is excessive pigmentation.
• Pigmentation may be caused by hormonal changes. The point is again in melanin, for the production of which, last but not least, the endocrine glands responsible for the synthesis of hormones are responsible.
• Pregnancy can provoke the appearance of spots, in which powerful hormonal changes occur.
• Pigmentation may appear after injury. The integrity of the skin is broken, and post-traumatic hyperpigmentation occurs.
• Some medications cause the side effect of excessive skin pigmentation.
• Liver diseases very often affect the appearance, including the appearance of age spots.
• Poor-quality and incorrectly selected cosmetics contribute to changes in the skin.
• Various inflammations are a concomitant factor for pigmentation.
• Hormonal contraceptive pills provoke unnecessary pigmentation.
• Sometimes there is a hereditary factor.

These are the main reasons, there are others, for example, the performance of cosmetic procedures by people who do not have the appropriate professional skills and specialization.

What are age spots?

Chloasma – brown or light brown patches of uneven shape. They are in the nature of focal hyperpigmentation of different sizes with clear boundaries. For the most part, such spots appear in diseases of the internal organs.

How to treat age spots?

Today there are several ways to treat hyperpigmentation.

There are also folk remedies, but not only do they not give a guaranteed result, but they can also harm the skin.

The best and most reliable way is laser treatment or phototherapy. It’s fast and efficient. In
our clinic of laser cosmetology “Laser Estctic” we use modern laser devices Candela and Lumenis IPL QUANTUM, which are
recognized as the safest in the world, to remove age spots! Call us or leave a request on the website to sign up for
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Contents

• Varieties of skin hyperpigmentation
• Causes of age spots
• How to get rid of age spots on the face, hands and body
  • How to lighten age spots on the face or body at home

  900 15 How to remove age spots at a cosmetologist

• Prevention of age spots

Age spots are dark areas on the skin that appear due to the accumulation of melanin pigment. Because of them, the skin color becomes uneven, it looks older. There are many ways to deal with age spots on the face and body, but before choosing one or another method, you need to understand what they are and why they appear.

Varieties of skin hyperpigmentation

Melanin pigment is responsible for the color of eyes, hair and skin. If too much of it accumulates in certain areas of the skin, a pigment spot is formed. There are several types of age spots. The most common of them:

• Freckles, or ephelids – round or oval small reddish, brown or dark areas (up to 2 mm in diameter), often appear on open skin under the influence of ultraviolet radiation, may turn pale or disappear in winter.
• Moles, or nevi – dark areas, may protrude above the surface of the skin, appear at any age, may become more noticeable over time.
• Solar lentigo – areas of hyperpigmentation up to 2 cm in diameter, as well as freckles associated with exposure to sunlight. Most often formed on mature skin, they can persist throughout the year, even in winter, when the sun is less active.
• Melasma, or chloasma – large dark areas that appear due to changes in hormonal levels. They can occur during pregnancy, due to medication, against the background of certain diseases. Disappear when the hormonal background normalizes.

Hyperpigmentation can also be post-traumatic, post-inflammatory . It occurs if melanin begins to be actively produced under the influence of any factor. This is not always related to the color type of the skin, its aging or exposure to ultraviolet radiation – there are many causes of hyperpigmentation.

Causes of age spots

To understand how to remove age spots from the face, you need to determine the reason why they appeared. Most often, hyperpigmentation occurs under the influence of the following factors:

• Ultraviolet action – when unprotected skin is exposed to the sun for a long time, the cells responsible for the production of melanin are activated, its synthesis is accelerated, which leads to the formation of age spots.
• Injuries, injuries – after cuts, thermal or chemical burns, inflammation, active regeneration starts, which can accelerate the production of melanin. If this happens, hyperpigmentation occurs.
• Hormonal failures – they are provoked by changes in the state of health, many diseases, taking certain medications. If melanin synthesis is accelerated, areas of hyperpigmentation are formed.
• Heredity – the tendency to form age spots is often genetically determined. For example, some people do not have them even after a strong tan, while others immediately appear freckles in the sun.

Age spots can also occur due to certain chronic diseases, allergies, medications that increase sensitivity to sunlight, even due to the use of inappropriate cosmetics. With age, they become more noticeable, appear more often, last longer. Therefore, they are considered one of the signs of aging. To remove age spots, several different methods are used.

How to get rid of age spots on the face, on the hands and on the body

Choosing a way to remove hyperpigmentation from the face or body is necessary, taking into account the size, location, and also the reasons for the appearance of age spots. You can deal with them on your own, with home remedies or by contacting a cosmetology clinic.

How to lighten age spots on the face or body at home

Areas of hyperpigmentation can be removed with the help of special care cosmetics. Its whitening effect is provided by the following components:

• Salicylic acid – gently whitens and at the same time reduces inflammation, helps to remove acne, post-acne.
• Fruit acids – brighten the complexion and make it more even.
• AHA-acids – relieve inflammation, reduce sebum secretion, with regular use give a whitening effect.
• Thiamidol is an active substance that acts against hyperpigmentation.
• Licorice extract – has anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, soothing effect, visibly brightens the skin.

It is better to choose how to whiten age spots on the face together with a beautician. It will take into account the type, condition of the skin, as well as the causes of hyperpigmentation. Before using any new cosmetic product, try it on a small area of ​​your skin.

How to remove age spots at a cosmetologist

The most effective cosmetic procedures in the treatment of age spots are hardware, injection, and chemical peels.

Chemical peels

Chemical peels improve skin tone and even out it. They are often used as a way to remove senile, sun, and other age spots. Components with an active action in the composition of peels penetrate to a certain depth, controllably damage skin cells, which triggers its regeneration.

The following types of peelings are effective for fighting age spots:

• Based on mandelic acid – gently exfoliates, does not require restoration. It works gradually, and therefore several procedures are required.
• Yellow, or retinoic – removes hyperpigmentation quickly, but after it the skin needs recovery within 5-7 days.
• Salicylic – exfoliates the surface layer, effective against freckles and age spots that appear due to the sun.

If pigmentation is pronounced, medium peels, such as Jessner or PRX T33, will help to whiten the skin.

Some peels are seasonal treatments. They are not recommended for use in the summer when the sun is active. If age spots appear in the summer months due to ultraviolet radiation, all-weather treatments will be needed to get rid of them. For example, BioRePeel peeling with an additional effect of biorevitalization and moisturizing can be used throughout the year.

Injection treatments

Some injection treatments are good for treating facial pigmentation and improve skin condition. The most commonly used mesotherapy, biorevitalization, bioreparation.

During mesotherapy, preparations containing vitamins or other beneficial substances are injected into the skin. As part of cocktails for whitening, lightening, vitamin C is used. Additionally, the preparation may contain hyaluronic acid for moisturizing, phospholipids that increase elasticity, antioxidants, minerals, vitamins, active substances that destroy melanin, anti-inflammatory and other components. Mesotherapy is carried out in courses. Its effect is cumulative. Pigment spots gradually lighten, and the skin condition improves.

Biorevitalization is an injection technique in which preparations based on hyaluronic acid are injected into the skin. Biorevitalizants may contain additional components, including those acting against hyperpigmentation (most often it is vitamin C or succinic acid). Biorevitalization is carried out in courses. It moisturizes the skin, stimulates its renewal, and is often used as a way to restore normal pigmentation.

Bioreparation is a procedure for rejuvenation. For her, cocktails based on hyaluronic acid with active ingredients are used. The beautician introduces them in such a way as to ensure the delivery of nutrients to a certain depth. Bioreparation is used to combat hyperpigmentation. For this, preparations with brightening peptides, cocktails containing vitamin C or other active substances that destroy melanin or slow down its production are used.

Hardware cosmetology

Among the effective ways to permanently get rid of age spots are hardware techniques. They may work in different ways. Some procedures start skin renewal, improve its condition, while others act selectively against age spots.

Most often used:

• photorejuvenation;
• laser techniques: resurfacing or peeling.

Phototherapy, or IPL therapy, uses pulses of light. They focus on target cells that are darker than the surrounding tissue. These are cells that contain melanin and form a pigment spot. Cells absorb light, after which it is converted into thermal energy and destroys them. At the same time, healthy tissues are not damaged. Phototherapy is safe, easily tolerated, and does not cause complications. With its help, you can get rid of both those that have arisen due to the sun, and age or other age spots.

Laser techniques are among the most effective for removing pigmentation. To remove pigmentation and even out skin color, you can use laser resurfacing or peeling.

During laser resurfacing, the laser penetrates the skin to a predetermined depth and precisely destroys target cells (including those containing melanin). The depth of penetration of the rays can be adjusted, and this allows you to remove pigment spots of different types. Fractional CO2 laser peeling works in a complex way. In the deep layers, it destroys old and pigmented cells, starting the regeneration process, and on the surface it evaporates the stratum corneum, removing not only pigmentation, but also wrinkles, post-acne, scars and other imperfections. Laser peeling allows you to cure age spots that have arisen both due to ultraviolet radiation and for other reasons.

It is better to choose how to treat age spots together with a beautician. He will determine the reason why they appeared, assess the condition of the skin, and then decide whether it is possible to remove age spots on the face or body, and how best to do it.

Peelings from 3500 ₽

Facial mesotherapy from 320 ₽

Biorevitalization from 9270 ₽

Photorejuvenation from 9200 ₽

Laser resurfacing of the face from 7000 ₽

CO2 laser peeling from 7000 ₽

Prevention of age spots

If the skin is prone to hyperpigmentation and dark spots often appear on it, it is important to observe the following preventive measures.