Melasma Uncovered: Understanding, Managing, and Preventing Skin Discoloration

Melasma is fairly common problem, it is usually caused by factors like pregnancy, certain types of drugs, and exposure to the sun. It will look like dark brown spots, usually on the areas that get the most sun; the cheeks, forehead, nose, or upper lip.

The amount of sun you are exposed to is a significant factor in the development of melasma. The process of how the skin produces melanin (Melanogenesis) is triggered by UVB, UVA, and short-wavelength visible light. This highlights how important  it is to protect your skin from the sun and to avoid specific (photosensitising) medications, which increase the skin's sensitivity to sunlight.

There are some genetic factors that will contribute to melasma, which mostly affects women with darker skin tones, such as those with Fitzpatrick skin types III, IV and V. This makes treating melasma is difficult due to its complexities, and frequent recurrence.

Melasma and hyperpigmentation both cause the skin to darken, but each have different causes. Melasma will create brown patches your face, especially where the skin is exposed to the skin. The exact cause is though to relate to changes in hormones like pregnancy or using contraceptives, which can be made worse by sun exposure. 

Hyperpigmentation is a more general term for any skin getting darker due to an increase in the melanin with is typically caused by sun exposure, inflammation, changes in hormones, and skin injuries.

So the term melasma is a very specific type of hyperpigmentation with very distinct features, the term hyperpigmentation applies to a variety of different conditions.

A good question, as there are several different approaches - every skin professional will have a different opinion based on their past successes. 

In our opinion, we believe that our treatment method is both the fastest and the most effective treatment around. Unfortunately there is no complete cure for melasma, but we can significantly reduce its appearance. If you choose this path, you will need to commit to a new skincare routine — otherwise, the melasma will come back.

There are topical therapies, such as Hydroquinone, Azelaic acid, steroids, etc. and there are oral therapies like Tranexamic acid. But these tend to work very slowly often taking many months to show any changes to your skin. Most people find this very frustrating and without proper skincare advice from a professional, may find that they see virtually no changes in their skin. 

Microneedling, peels, lasers and ultrasound therapy can assist with melanin removal, but these treatments alone won't produce much change in your skin's appearance. 

Our experience has shown that the best way to treat melasma is by using multiple methods together, in the correct order, we will be able to significantly reduce the appearance of your melasma. 

Rigorous daily sun protection, including the use of tinted sunscreen (such as mesoestetic melan 130 pigment control and ZO Skin Health Primer + Sunscreen), are crucial for successful prevention and prevention of relapse.

Avoiding photosensitising drugs, such as: Antibiotics, Ibuprofen and Antihistamines.

There is currently no curative treatment (a treatment that will completely eradicating a condition) available for melasma. Therefore, managing melasma involves a combination of treatments (including sun protection) to control the condition and minimise its impact on quality of life.

Melasma may fade with aging and often disappears in women after menopause, but melasma in areas of the body other than the face can persist longer.

To prevent melasma from getting worse, it's important to protect your skin from the sun. Direct sun exposure is a major risk factor, so wearing broad-spectrum tinted sunscreen and avoiding too much sun is crucial. UVA and visible light can cause melanogenesis (the process how the skin produces melanin) even indoors or in the shade. Using sunscreens designed for pigment issues is important.

Avoid photosensitising drugs and cosmetics, and consider stopping contraceptive pills to help prevent melasma from worsening.