Our Services / Melasma

What is melasma?

Melasma is a skin condition that causes irregularly shaped brown or bluish-gray skin patches due to an overproduction of melanin, the pigment that gives skin its color. These darkened skin patches are especially common on the cheeks, forehead, nose, chin, and upper lip.

Dermatology & Advanced Skin Care offers comprehensive care for adults bothered by melasma-related skin discoloration.

The board-certified dermatologists use state-of-the-art laser technology to improve your complexion. The physicians also provide preventive resources to stop your melasma symptoms from worsening.

What causes melasma?

While the root cause of melasma isn’t well understood, fluctuations in a woman’s hormone levels can trigger skin color changes.

Hormone fluctuations occur in women who use hormonal birth control methods. Melasma is also common in pregnant women and is often referred to as the “mask of pregnancy.”

Exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet rays (UV) rays can also contribute to melasma symptoms, especially if you’re not wearing sunscreen when you spend time outdoors.

Other risk factors for melasma include:

• Genetics
• Hypothyroidism
• Anti-seizure medications
• Exposure to tanning beds or LED lights

Makeup and skin care products can also worsen melasma symptoms, especially if they cause a phototoxic reaction that increases your skin’s sensitivity to light.

The Dermatology & Advanced Skin Care providers assess the health of your skin and can use a special light to see color changes. They may also request bloodwork to check for a thyroid disorder or a hormone imbalance.

How is melasma treated?

In some cases, melasma symptoms may go away without medical treatment. You should continue to use high-quality sunscreen to protect your skin from UV light and avoid sun exposure as much as possible.

If your melasma persists, the Dermatology & Advanced Skin Care physicians may recommend changing your birth control to a non-hormonal method. They might also prescribe medications to address an underlying thyroid disorder.

To treat the color changes in your skin, the providers may recommend strategies like:

• Topical medications
• Oral medication or supplements
• Chemical peels
• Microneedling
• Intense pulsed light (IPL) therapy

The board-certified dermatologists also offer the Clarity II™, a dual wavelength laser technology that breaks up darkened pigments in the skin without damaging surrounding tissue.

Call Dermatology & Advanced Skin Care today to schedule a diagnostic evaluation for symptoms of melasma or book a skin consultation online.