Melasma

What It Is

Melasma is a skin pigmentation condition that appears as brown, blotchy patches on the facial complexion, usually occurring on the cheeks, forehead, chin, upper lip, and on the bridge of the nose. Melasma is more commonly seen in women, especially those who have darker skin pigmentation.

Hormonal factors can play a significant role in the development of melasma, which may arise during pregnancy, while taking birth control pills, during hormone replacement therapy or due to a hormonal imbalance. Another factor that can contribute to the occurence of melasma is exposure to UV light, including that from the sun. The UV rays emitted from the sun can stimulate the melanin present in your skin, which is responsible for your skin’s pigment. This is why melasma is more common in those with darker skin, as individuals with coloured skin have more melanin in their skin to begin with.

Melasma is not a dangerous or harmful skin condition, but is a cosmetically unpleasant skin condition.

How It’s Treated

Laser Treatments

• Fractionated CO2 Laser – The Fractionated CO2 Laser is effective for the treatment of melasma because it destroys the damaged, pigmented skin and promotes the production of collagen, which will come in the form of healthy, youthful skin instead.

• Quatro Pro Yellow Laser – This laser is effective in the treatment of melasma and has the unique ability to treat a wide range of skin tones from light to dark. The powerful laser operates at 577nm, which has the ability to penetrate deeper into the skin. This provides an effective treatment for melasma as the skin discolouration is usually quite pigmented and deep within the skin’s layers.

Non-Laser Treatments

• Jessner’s Peel – The Jessner’s Peel is an anti-aging peel designed to dramatically improve skin elasticity and tone. It reverses fine lines and wrinkles, pigment irregularities and mild scarring.

• Mandelic Acid Peel – This safe and gentle peel is effective for all skin types and tones and is used to lighten skin pigmentation as a result of sun damage, acne, scarring, melasma, and photo damaged skin.

• Retinol Peel – The Retinol Peel uses natural Vitamin A to exfoliate the skin. This will help with overall facial rejuvenation and lighten sun damage and uneven pigmentation on the skin, such as acne scars.

• Obagi Blue Peel – The Blue Peel is a medium strength chemical peel used to enhance the texture of the skin while diminishing the appearance of fine lines, age spots, and other types of skin discolorations, including sun damage. One of the primary benefits of the Obagi Blue Peel over other types of peels is that the strength of the formula can be adjusted depending on your needs.

• TCA Peel – Trichloroacetic Acid is a medium strength chemical agent applied to the face or hands to exfoliate and renew the skin in the treated area. TCA works well for treating darker skin types and has the ability to correct pigmentation, smooth out fine lines and wrinkles, and for the removal of superficial blemishes.