Phentermine

Sexually Transmitted Disease

Melasma

Melasma is a very common skin disorder, characterized by irregular patches of dark patches on the skin. Melasma is also known by other names such as Chloasma and Mask of pregnancy. Although it can affect anyone, young women with brownish skin tones are at greatest risk. The brownish discoloration of the face is usually seen over the sun –exposed areas such as cheeks, forehead, nose or upper lip. This discoloration is mostly symmetrical on both the sides, fades in winter and gets worse in the summer. Melasma problem is mostly faced by women but men also develop this problem.

Symptoms
The symptoms of melasma that develop on the upper cheek, lips and forehead are:

Tan, dark brown patches
Irregular in shape.

Causes
Melasma is often associated with the female hormones estrogen and progesterone which stimulate the pigmentation hormones causing dark brown or grey patches on the face. Melasma is especially common in pregnant women, women who are taking oral contraceptives i.e. the pill, and the women taking hormone replacement therapy during menopause. Sun exposure is also another strong risk factor for melasma. A few cases within families suggest that melasma should not be considered as a heritable disorder. Although there are some diseases that cause similar changes in the skin, melasma itself has no association with internal disease.

Diagnosis
The dermatologist can diagnose melasma based upon the appearance of the skin. A closer examination using a Wood’s lamp may help guide your treatment.

Treatment
The best treatment for melasma is prevention. The key to preventing melesma is to avoid the sun exposure and make a rule to apply sunscreen while moving out. However for the ones whom it’s too late for prevention a number of treatment options are available. A combination of tretinoin cream and a bleaching cream containing hydroquinone may be fruitful in fading some types of melasma. Occasionally, your dermatologist may add chemical peels or tropical steroid creams as well. In severe cases, laser treatments can be used to remove the dark pigment.