Skin Disorder : Melasma
- Melasma (also known as "Chloasma faciei"[1]:854 or the mask of pregnancy when present in pregnant women) is a tan or dark skin discoloration.
- Although it can affect anyone, melasma is particularly common in women, especially pregnant women and those who are taking oral or patch contraceptives or hormone replacement therapy (HRT) medications.
Symptoms :
The symptoms of melasma are dark, irregular patches commonly found on the upper cheek, nose, lips, upper lip, and forehead. These patches often develop gradually over time. Melasma does not cause any other symptoms beyond the cosmetic discoloration.
Cause :
- Melasma is thought to be the stimulation of melanocytes or pigment-producing cells by the female sex hormones estrogen and progesterone to produce more melanin pigments when the skin is exposed to sun.
- Women with a light brown skin type who are living in regions with intense sun exposure are particularly susceptible to developing this condition.
- Genetic predisposition is also a major factor in determining whether someone will develop melasma.
- The incidence of melasma also increases in patients with thyroid disease.
Treatment:
The discoloration usually disappears spontaneously over a period of several months after giving birth or stopping the oral contraceptives or hormone replacement therapy.
Treatments to hasten the fading of the discolored patches include:
1. Topical depigmenting agents.
2. Facial peel with alpha hydroxyacids or chemical peels with glycolic acid.
3. Laser treatment.