 Melasma
Description and Details
Melasma is a skin condition that
occurs mostly in women and produces
brown patches on the face. These
patches are most common on the
nose, cheeks, forehead, chin and
upper lip. It is not known what
causes melasma to develop. However
genetics, excessive amounts of
sun exposure, and hormone levels
are thought to play a role.
There is no cure for melasma,
but there are effective treatments.
Broad-spectrum sunscreen should
be worn daily and will help prevent
further skin darkening caused
by the sun.
Treatments for Melasma and Other
Hyperpigmentations
-
Prescription lightening
agents containing hydroquinone
(i.e. Obagi,
Kinerase Skin Lightener)
with or without vitamin A
derivatives, steroids, and
glycolic acid help reduce
discoloration over time. Products
containing azelaic acid and
kojic acid cam also help this
condition.
-
Chemical
peels and microdermabrasion
are frequently used to treat
melasma, often in combination
with topical agents.
-
Laser
and Intense Pulsed Light (IPL)
treatments are often used
to reduce pigment with little
or no scarring. The latest
laser to address melasma is
fractional
CO2 (Lumenis™ FX).
Using state-of-the-art bridge
therapy to create a favorable
safety profile, the FX laser
system has become the gold
standard for correction of
hyperpigmentation and melasma.
Both the PigmentFX and ActiveFX
protocols are aimed at this
common skin condition, and
the results are unmatched
by any laser system or procedure
currently available.
The staff at the Knight Dermatology
Institute will be happy to discuss
the many treatments of hyperpigmentation
and melasma with you.
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