Melasma is a condition that occurs when there is an increased level of melanin in certain areas of the skin.
This type of hyperpigmentation is much more common in women than in men, with hormonal fluctuations being one of the causes.
Melasma is also known as "the mask of pregnancy," as pregnant women are most affected by this skin problem, and it manifests as the appearance of darker spots on different parts of the body.
This article will help you understand what melasma is, its types and causes, how it can be prevented, and what treatments are available. You will also discover the most effective Ivatherm products for fading pigmented spots and maintaining an even, luminous complexion.
Table of Contents
What is melasma?
Melasma is a skin condition characterized by the appearance of light brown, dark brown, or bluish-gray patches on the skin. Sometimes, these pigment spots are confused with freckles. It is a common, harmless skin problem, and some treatments can help fade the symptoms. There are also situations when melasma disappears on its own.
Typically, melasma is a chronic condition. This means it is long-lasting (three months or more). Some people have melasma for years or their entire lives. Other people may only have melasma for a short period, such as during pregnancy.
Melanocytes are skin cells that produce and store melanin (skin pigment) in the epidermis. In response to light, heat, or ultraviolet radiation, or through hormonal stimulation, melanocytes produce more melanin in certain areas than in others. Excess melanin produces the dark spots known as melasma.
Brown spots usually appear on the cheeks, forehead, nose, chin, and above the upper lip. They can also appear on the neck and forearms. However, melasma can affect any part of the skin exposed to sunlight. This is why most people with melasma notice their symptoms worsen during the summer months. Pigmented spots generally appear in people between 20 and 40 years old.
This type of hyperpigmentation is more common in people with darker skin (Fitzpatrick phototypes III-IV), but it can also occur in people with lighter skin.
Pregnant women have increased levels of estrogen and progesterone hormones. Scientists believe these hormones contribute to the appearance of melasma.
Types of melasma
In melasma, the change in color is mainly in the epidermis, which is the top layer of the skin. However, there is increasing evidence that, although hyperpigmentation is located in the epidermis, deeper layers of the skin, such as the dermis, also play a role in the development of melasma.
There are three types of melasma:
Epidermal melasma – characterized by dark brown spots;
Dermal melasma – whose symptoms are light brown or bluish spots;
Mixed melasma – the most common, manifesting with both bluish and brown spots.
While melasma does not cause other physical symptoms, some people may find the appearance of these spots bothersome. Melasma spots should not cause physical pain.
Causes and risk factors for melasma
People with darker skin are more at risk of developing pigment spots than those with lighter skin. Sensitivity to estrogen and progesterone are also associated with melasma. Stress and thyroid diseases are also considered triggering factors for this condition.
Although it is not very clear why melasma appears, certain triggering factors and several risk categories have been identified.
Specialized literature discusses two main causes of melasma:
radiation;
hormones.
Potential triggers for melasma may include:
Hormonal changes during pregnancy;
Hormone therapy or contraceptive pills – melasma has been observed in people using oral contraceptive pills containing estrogen and progesterone;
Sun exposure – when sunlight hits the skin, it causes the body to produce more melanin, which explains why melasma develops on skin that receives the most sunlight, such as the skin on the face, neck, and arms;
Hypothyroidism – a condition where the thyroid is underactive;
Screens of modern devices – melasma can be caused by blue light from TV, laptop, mobile phone, and tablet;
Some medications – anticonvulsant drugs and medications that make the skin more sensitive to sunlight (retinoids, some antibiotics, and some blood pressure medications) can trigger melasma;
Pregnancy – it is unclear why pigment spots appear among pregnant women, but experts theorize that increased levels of estrogen, progesterone, and melanocyte-stimulating hormones during the third trimester of pregnancy play an important role;
Makeup – some cosmetic products can cause what is called a phototoxic reaction;
Tanning beds – UV light produced by tanning beds damages the skin just as badly as ultraviolet radiation from the sun, sometimes even worse.
Some people are more prone to suffering from melasma than others. Thus, risk factors for melasma can be:
Skin color – melasma occurs more frequently in people with darker skin tones, especially if they live in areas with high levels of sun exposure;
Female gender – melasma affects women approximately nine times more than men;
Pregnancy – melasma is more common during pregnancy, affecting between 15% and 50% of pregnant women;
Genetics – up to 50% of people with melasma have reported that someone in their family suffers from the same problem, and most identical twins both have melasma;
Age – people between 20 and 40 years old are more at risk of melasma.
Melasma does not appear overnight, but develops slowly, over a period of several weeks or even months.
Melasma: prevention and treatment
A dermatologist can diagnose melasma by carefully examining the hyperpigmented areas. They may use specific tools, such as a Wood's lamp or a dermatoscope, to observe which layers of the skin have been affected and if there are fungal or bacterial infections.
Sometimes, melasma can look like another skin condition. To rule this out, the dermatologist may perform a skin biopsy.
Melasma: treatment methods
Melasma is difficult to treat. To establish a treatment plan, the cause of melasma must first be identified.
Melasma can disappear on its own, be permanent, or respond to treatment within a few months. Most cases of melasma will fade over time, especially with good protection against ultraviolet rays and other light sources.
Therefore, there is no specific treatment for melasma. Often, the most effective treatment combines sun protection with topically applied cosmetic products.
The goals of treatment are to reduce the amount of pigment the body produces and to even out the skin tone, bringing it back to its natural color.
The treatment plan for melasma may include one or more of the following procedures:
Ivawhite Depigmenting Cream – brightens and smooths sensitive skin with hyperpigmentation and dark spots. Reduces the number, size, and intensity of lentigines (age spots), freckles, melasma, and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.
Ivawhite Intensive Depigmenting Serum – evens out and improves the radiance and glow of the face. Stimulates the disappearance of hyperpigmented spots and prevents their reappearance. The serum has a dual mechanism of action on pigment spots: it reduces melanin production by inhibiting the enzymes involved in its formation, and it prevents the transfer of melanin to the upper layers of the skin.
There are several ways in which people suffering from melasma can ensure that symptoms do not worsen, but rather that spots fade. Thus, people with melasma should avoid:
hormone treatments, especially those involving estrogen;
contraceptive methods, especially those containing estrogen and progesterone;
blue screen light;
cosmetic products that irritate the skin;
medications that can cause or worsen melasma;
fragranced soaps;
tanning beds;
waxing.
Melasma: prevention methods
Although there are triggers for melasma that cannot be countered, such as genetics or hormonal changes during pregnancy, there are several methods by which the appearance of pigment spots can be prevented:
daily use of a cream with sun protection with a minimum SPF 30;
wearing wide-brimmed hats to protect the face;
wearing protective clothing when exposed to the sun;
reducing time spent in front of screens that emit blue light;
choosing a hormone-free contraception method.
Melasma is a common skin problem that does not cause pain and is not life-threatening, but it can be aesthetically bothersome. Fortunately, there are treatment options that can help fade pigment spots, as well as preventive measures to delay or even avoid the appearance of melasma.
Echipa Ivatherm
Conținutul IvaStories este creat de echipa Ivatherm, brand romanesc de dermatocosmetice fondat de Dr. Rucsandra Hurezeanu. Produsele Ivatherm sunt formulate cu Apă Termală Herculane și sunt testate dermatologic, recomandate de medici specialiști.
Melasma: causes, prevention and treatment
Melasma is a condition that occurs when there is an increased level of melanin in certain areas of the skin.
This type of hyperpigmentation is much more common in women than in men, with hormonal fluctuations being one of the causes.
Melasma is also known as "the mask of pregnancy," as pregnant women are most affected by this skin problem, and it manifests as the appearance of darker spots on different parts of the body.
This article will help you understand what melasma is, its types and causes, how it can be prevented, and what treatments are available. You will also discover the most effective Ivatherm products for fading pigmented spots and maintaining an even, luminous complexion.
Table of Contents
What is melasma?
Melasma is a skin condition characterized by the appearance of light brown, dark brown, or bluish-gray patches on the skin. Sometimes, these pigment spots are confused with freckles. It is a common, harmless skin problem, and some treatments can help fade the symptoms. There are also situations when melasma disappears on its own.
Typically, melasma is a chronic condition. This means it is long-lasting (three months or more). Some people have melasma for years or their entire lives. Other people may only have melasma for a short period, such as during pregnancy.
Melanocytes are skin cells that produce and store melanin (skin pigment) in the epidermis. In response to light, heat, or ultraviolet radiation, or through hormonal stimulation, melanocytes produce more melanin in certain areas than in others. Excess melanin produces the dark spots known as melasma.
Brown spots usually appear on the cheeks, forehead, nose, chin, and above the upper lip. They can also appear on the neck and forearms. However, melasma can affect any part of the skin exposed to sunlight. This is why most people with melasma notice their symptoms worsen during the summer months. Pigmented spots generally appear in people between 20 and 40 years old.
This type of hyperpigmentation is more common in people with darker skin (Fitzpatrick phototypes III-IV), but it can also occur in people with lighter skin.
Pregnant women have increased levels of estrogen and progesterone hormones. Scientists believe these hormones contribute to the appearance of melasma.
Types of melasma
In melasma, the change in color is mainly in the epidermis, which is the top layer of the skin. However, there is increasing evidence that, although hyperpigmentation is located in the epidermis, deeper layers of the skin, such as the dermis, also play a role in the development of melasma.
There are three types of melasma:
While melasma does not cause other physical symptoms, some people may find the appearance of these spots bothersome. Melasma spots should not cause physical pain.
Causes and risk factors for melasma
People with darker skin are more at risk of developing pigment spots than those with lighter skin. Sensitivity to estrogen and progesterone are also associated with melasma. Stress and thyroid diseases are also considered triggering factors for this condition.
Although it is not very clear why melasma appears, certain triggering factors and several risk categories have been identified.
Specialized literature discusses two main causes of melasma:
Potential triggers for melasma may include:
Some people are more prone to suffering from melasma than others. Thus, risk factors for melasma can be:
Melasma does not appear overnight, but develops slowly, over a period of several weeks or even months.
Melasma: prevention and treatment
A dermatologist can diagnose melasma by carefully examining the hyperpigmented areas. They may use specific tools, such as a Wood's lamp or a dermatoscope, to observe which layers of the skin have been affected and if there are fungal or bacterial infections.
Sometimes, melasma can look like another skin condition. To rule this out, the dermatologist may perform a skin biopsy.
Melasma: treatment methods
Melasma is difficult to treat. To establish a treatment plan, the cause of melasma must first be identified.
Melasma can disappear on its own, be permanent, or respond to treatment within a few months. Most cases of melasma will fade over time, especially with good protection against ultraviolet rays and other light sources.
Therefore, there is no specific treatment for melasma. Often, the most effective treatment combines sun protection with topically applied cosmetic products.
The goals of treatment are to reduce the amount of pigment the body produces and to even out the skin tone, bringing it back to its natural color.
The treatment plan for melasma may include one or more of the following procedures:
There are several ways in which people suffering from melasma can ensure that symptoms do not worsen, but rather that spots fade. Thus, people with melasma should avoid:
Melasma: prevention methods
Although there are triggers for melasma that cannot be countered, such as genetics or hormonal changes during pregnancy, there are several methods by which the appearance of pigment spots can be prevented:
Melasma is a common skin problem that does not cause pain and is not life-threatening, but it can be aesthetically bothersome. Fortunately, there are treatment options that can help fade pigment spots, as well as preventive measures to delay or even avoid the appearance of melasma.
Echipa Ivatherm
Conținutul IvaStories este creat de echipa Ivatherm, brand romanesc de dermatocosmetice fondat de Dr. Rucsandra Hurezeanu. Produsele Ivatherm sunt formulate cu Apă Termală Herculane și sunt testate dermatologic, recomandate de medici specialiști.