Melasma
By: Meghan Malo
ABOUT MELASMA
MELASMA IS CAUSED BY SUN EXPOSURE. IT IS VERY COMMON IN PREGNANT WOMEN, OFTEN CALLED A "PREGNANCY MASK".
WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE? WHERE DOES IT SHOW UP?
MELASMA CAUSES BROWN-TAN PATCHES ON THE FACE. THE NOSE, CHIN, AND UPPER LIP ARE USUALLY THE AREAS THAT ARE AFFECTED. WOMEN ARE MORE LIKELY TO GET MELASMA THAN MEN, DUE TO HORMONES TRIGGERING MELASMA. THIS IS WHY IT IS SO COMMON IN PREGNENT WOMEN.
HOW IS MELASMA DIAGNOSED?
A DOCTOR CAN TELL IF YOU HAVE MELASMA JUST BY LOOKING, BUT THEY ALSO MAY USE SOMETHING CALLED A WOOD LAMP. A WOOD LAMP IS A SPECIAL LIGHT THAT A DOCTOR USES TO DETECT AN INFECTION OR A DISEASE ON THE SKIN.
ALSO, SOME DOCTORS MAY DO A BIOPSY, WHICH IS JUST TAKING A SMALL PIECE OF SKIN TO TEST.
PREVENTION/TREATMENTS
TO PREVENT YOURSELF FROM GETTING MELASMA, YOU SHOULD ALWAYS USE SUNBLOCK.
TOPICAL STEROID CREAMS
LASER TREATMENTS TO REMOVE THE DARK SKIN SPOTS
STOP TAKING HORMONE MEDICINES THAT COULD HAVE CAUSE YOU TO GET MELASMA
SOMETIMES, MELASMA MAY JUST DISAPPEAR ON ITS OWN