What Exactly is Melasma?

December 11, 2022

Melasma sounds a lot more terrifying than it is, which is a widespread skin condition that presents itself primarily on the face. Melasma can be gray or gray-brown patches of skin that occur commonly on the nose, cheeks, and forehead, but it is not uncommon in any area of the face. Some notice that melasma appears on their arms and neck if they spend ample time in the sun. Although melasma is not a deadly health problem, it is still rather difficult to live with. Understanding the causes of melasma is the first step to proper diagnosis and treatment.

What Causes Melasma?

Melasma is not the result of anything specific that medical professionals have discovered at this time. In most instances, it seems to occur in people who have too much pigment in their melanocytes - the cells in the skin that determine the color of the skin. If they produce too much color in specific areas, an individual might notice the onset of melasma on their skin. What causes these cells to produce too much pigment is as still unknown, but it does seem more common in areas that are exposed to sunlight more frequently than others. This is why the condition most commonly affects the face, arms, and neck in most people living with melasma.

Who Develops Melasma?

Although there is no exact way to pinpoint who will develop melasma based on specific skin tone or ethnicity, there are some individuals who are more likely to have this skin condition over others. Women tend to have melasma more often than men; only ten percent of those who live with melasma are male. Of those men, the majority have darker skin tones. While patients with lighter skin can certainly develop melasma, it has been most commonly found in those who have a naturally darker skin tone; such as people of Hispanic, Latin, African, Asian, Indian, Mediterranean, and Middle Eastern descent. It is presumed that this is the result of darker skin tones having a higher tendency to develop color more naturally.

Sunlight Triggers Melasma

Individuals who develop melasma tend to spend a lot of time in the sun. Sunlight is not necessarily going to cause melasma in all cases, but it does make the issue more common. Melanocytes, the cells that develop skin color, are affected by the harsh UV rays produced by the sun. Because spending time outside during the summer can make faded melasma spots appear darker, those who notice their melasma fading over time will see it become more prevalent in warmer weather. Melasma does fade and can go away entirely, but it almost always returns to those who spend a lot of time outdoors.

Hormonal Changes Trigger Melasma

Melasma is not just a problem you develop when you spend too much time unprotected in the sun; it is also a prevalent issue for women who are going through hormonal changes, such as pregnancy. Women who are not expecting a child but are taking birth control pills or medication designed to replace missing hormones might notice their skin change as a result. When an expectant mother develops these spots on her skin, her doctor might refer to it as chloasma. Using beauty products that irritate the skin can also cause melasma to darken and become more noticeable over time. Though none of this is to say a woman who has hormonal issues is going to notice her skin changing.

Symptoms Of Melasma

Melasma symptoms are simple; they are brown or brownish-gray spots that appear on the surface of the skin. Although most common on the face, arms, and neck, it is not impossible for melasma to appear on other parts of the body. Some might mistake their melasma for the onset of a new freckle, even though melasma is typically larger than a traditional freckle. It is a spot that does not grow by itself in one small area, rather these spots are much more significant and tend to appear in larger clumps and groupings.

Melasma Does Not Hurt

With any skin condition, medical issue, or illness, patients wonder if anypain will accompany their physical symptoms. There is no evidence melasma is painful, harmful, or dangerous to anyone with this condition. Because melasma does not make changes to the skin other than discoloration, it does not itch and does not require pain medication. Those who develop melasma are only inconvenienced by the way it looks - rather than the way it feels - or the consequences of noticing darker colored patches on their face, neck, arms, and hands.

Diagnosing Melasma

If an individual believes they may be developing melasma, it is wise to make an appointment to see a doctor. A general physician can diagnose a patient with melasma, but it is also recommended to consult with a dermatologist, being that it is a skin condition. A dermatologist can diagnose a patient with melasma by doing little more than looking at the condition of their skin. To see if it is deep-rooted, it is possible for a doctor to use a black light to better see into the skin. Medical professionals sometimes take skin samples - called biopsies - to ensure their patients are not dealing with skin cancer.

Do You Have To Treat Melasma?

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No patient is required to treat melasma if they are not bothered by the way their skin looks. Melasma typically fades on its own, but it does come back more prevalently after spending time in the sun or significant changes in hormones. Each time melasma appears, it will go away. The only problem many patients have is the fact it comes back with specific triggers. Some notice their melasma does not fade over time, and it is these individuals who doctors tend to treat using medical treatments, medications, and even topical ointments designed to lighten the skin to reduce the appearance of melasma.

Available Melasma Treatments

Medication can be prescribed to anyone who has melasma. It is most common for doctors to prescribe a topical ointment to aid in the appearance of melasma. Some doctors will prescribe this kind of treatment in their office, while others will direct their patients to pick up over-the-counter topical creams and ointments. Other medical professionals will refer patients with more severe cases to another doctor to undergo a laser treatment designed to remove melasma from the skin. Sometimes the dermatologist can perform these procedures in their own office.

Complications From Melasma

There are no complications from melasma, but sometimes patients notice they are not seeing the results they want following treatment. This might mean the patient sees their skin growing darker rather than becoming lighter. If the skin appears darker and the spots do not fade at least a little following the treatment procedure, patients should call their doctor immediately to discuss other options. This allows the doctor time to go over their treatment plan and come up with an alternative method of treatment designed to help the patient receive the results they would prefer to see.

Lifestyle Changes To Help With Melasma

There is not much a patient can do to prevent melasma if they already have it, but they can stop melasma from becoming so dark they cannot handle the way it looks. Patients should always protect their skin in the sun because UV rays cause skin cells to darken, this is why so many people notice their melasma is worse in the summer. Wearing sunscreen, hats, and long clothing while outdoors is one of the simplest ways to ensure skin is protected from the sun. Sunglasses are also helpful if a person notices their melasma is more prevalent around the eyes.

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