Melasma

What is melasma?

Melasma is a common skin condition that makes you develop freckle-like spots and blotchy patches on your skin. Melasma spots and blotches may be tan, brown, grayish-brown, or blueish-gray and can affect any skin type.

Melasma tends to develop on your:

• Forehead
• Cheeks
• Chin
• Nose
• Above the upper lip

Melasma is most prevalent in women, who may first encounter melasma when they’re on hormonal birth control or during pregnancy.

Is melasma a type of skin cancer?

Melasma is not cancerous, nor does it threaten your physical health in any way. If you don’t have a problem with how your melasma looks, you don’t need to seek treatment. However, whether or not it’s a source of insecurity, you should check it out if you notice signs of melasma to ensure it’s not something else.

How do you treat melasma?

There is no cure for melasma, but a dermatologist can help you manage it with a personalized treatment plan. Your dermatologist will considers factors such as your skin tone, how deep the melasma penetrates your skin, and many melasma triggers you may have recently encountered, like stress, birth control, or sunlight exposure.

Melasma treatment plans usually include:

Sun protection

To avoid darkening your melasma or developing new freckles and patches, you need sun protection. In addition to seeking shade and wearing wide-brimmed hats in the sun,  a sunscreen that contains iron oxide, titanium oxide, or zinc oxide is recommended. For it to be effective, apply it regularly.

Medication

To even skin tone and reduce inflammation, the practice may prescribe a combination of topical agents and oral medications, like:

• Hydroquinone
• Tretinoin, and a mild corticosteroid
• Triple combination cream
• Azelaic acid
• Tranexemic acid

In-office procedures

Sometimes, you need more than sun protection and/or medication. In this case, the practice may recommend an in-office procedure, like a chemical peel or Clear + Brilliant.