I have devoted many years of my career as a dermatologist to the treatment of melasma. Over the years I have dressed as virtually all patients approach this skin pigmentation in completely the wrong way. And that is why most melasma treatments fail.
I have seen how this skin condition also known as chloasma of pregnancy or facial clothcan have a great influence on my patients' self-esteem and confidence. One of the reasons I started this blog is to help those suffering from melasma and other pigmentary conditions to change their misconceptions, to get accurate information, to seek expert dermatological opinion, in order to make a proper treatment of this condition.
The lack of information of my patients is so great that I decided to write a book about facial blemishes so that everyone can approach the problem of melasma holistically and take proactive behaviors to take care of themselves.
Skin care starts with understanding what is happening to you. Only then can you take effective steps to improve your melasma.
What will I talk about in this article?
What is melasma?
Melasma is a type of adult hyperpigmentation, which occurs more frequently in women (90%). It is characterized by the presence of brown spots in sun-exposed areas. Therefore, they often appear on the face, but can also appear on the neck, chest and arms.Quote
It typically develops slowly and chronically, tending to appear and gradually worsen if we are exposed to the sun. Over time, if we do not change our habits and do not start taking care of ourselves, these stains will remain permanently. on the face which makes the treatment of melasma much more complicated.
Melasma has a multifactorial origin, that is, there are many causes that produce it. However, the most important causes are:
- Chronic exposure to ultraviolet radiation: from the moment we are born. That is why dermatologists say that the skin has a memory.
- Hormones
- Genetics
But, there are others that can also influence the development and persistence of facial blemishes such as the use of contraceptive therapy, hypothyroidism, pregnancy, some phototoxic drugs (drugs that sensitize, increasing the effect of sunlight) and artificial tanning booths.
What is the impact of melasma?
Melasma can cause profound shame, anxiety and depression in the people who suffer from it. Many patients seek treatments and therapeutic options thinking that there is a definitive cure for these spots, but they soon discover that there is no easy solution and that there are many more people who suffer from it.Quote
If you are one of those people, keep in mind that there are many emotions linked to our appearance, so having melasma pigmentation on the face, can pose in some cases a real problem for self-esteem and confidence.
Emotional problems that people with melasma may experience include reluctance to participate in social occasions or even to go out. Photos, get-togethers and parties are avoided. Ultimately, this can lead to self-exclusion and a less happy life. Quote
Is there a cure for melasma?
Fortunately, dermatology and science are advancing faster and faster and the knowledge of the biological processes behind this disease is increasing. However, there is no definitive cure, we will see that with appropriate treatment guidelines for melasma (in mild cases) or with specific dermatological treatments, very good results can be achieved in most patients in the long term.
Why is melasma difficult to treat?
In my opinion, and after visiting hundreds of patients, no one has really explained to them what is happening to them or the different therapeutic options that exist. As a dermatologist, My great challenge is to educate patients so that they can thoroughly understand the causes of melasma and the different treatment options that exist.
The treatment of melasma is based on a combination of lifestyle changes and dermatological treatments that must be maintained for life. Many of the patients who come to our office have been suffering from this problem for many years and have not yet undergone any preventive treatment to prevent this pigmentation from progressing.
There's no point in using the best creams or having a depigmentation laser if you're going to go to the beach to sunbathe! Once the stains have been treated, it is essential to perform a maintenance treatment, otherwise the stains will reappear.
That is why I wrote a book on facial blemishes so that all patients have access to quality information and specific care routines to improve melasma.
Prevention of melasma
Before beginning specific treatments and care guidelines we have to start by eliminating the factors that may be causing melasma.
- The most important change we have to make is to protect ourselves from the sun.. This means that we do not have to tan our faces. In addition to the sun, tanning booths are even worse, as they deliver very high doses of UV radiation, which makes the problem much worse. If you want to know more about photoprotection keep reading this.
- If there is a clear cause why you are staining, we must eliminate it. An example is birth control pills that can pigment the face. If you think that any medication may be causing your facial blemishes, you should discuss them with your treating physician and assess them.
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Treatment of melasma
In medicine, the most important thing in treating any disease will be to take a complete medical history and perform a thorough physical examination, which will guide the treatment. There are several treatment options available, targeting different molecular pathways of melasma.
Generally speaking, I will always recommend that you see a dermatologist, but I know it's not always that easy or accessible because of what I've recently seen. I have written a book in which I give you tools so that you can start a routine care routine.. In many cases, these routines can even end melasma spots. But that's not all, you'll start taking care of yourself the right way and have healthy skin in the future.
To show you that well indicated depigmentation treatments can have a great impact on our skin, here are two cases of my recently treated patients.
Case 1 - melasma before and after
This patient came for consultation after many years in which she noticed that her cheeks were becoming more and more pigmented. She had tried some depigmenting treatments that had been recommended to her at the pharmacy, without success. So she decided to do some research on the internet and found many homemade recipes (use of lemon, baking soda, etc.) that only aggravated the problem. Finally she decided to come to my office where I was able to explain to her in depth what was wrong and to prescribe a treatment with specific creams for her melasma.
In the pictures above, only a month had passed between images and the patient could not believe her results. She had finally been able to remove the spots and could finally socialize without the embarrassment they caused her.
Case 2 - melasma before and after
This second case was somewhat more difficult to treat but I can say that after several months with a specific routine this patient is very happy. She started with a melasma with an important genetic and hormonal component several years ago. She had done several pharmacy treatments noticing a partial improvement but with time it had no effect.
In her we had to perform more specific dermatological treatments (peelings and oral tranexamic acid and potent maintenance retinoids) with which we were able to keep her melasma under control.
Stay away from deceptive marketing!
Unlike the many commercial brands offering miracle creams with spectacular depigmenting results in a few weeks (a lie!)What we will do here are care routines to slowly improve your skin.
In my opinion, the pressure exerted by many unprofessional companies to increase sales creates incorrect and/or unjustified concepts. Today, I see patients with care routines that are very long and without any evidence that they are really effective.
Care routines for melasma treatment
Skin care has to be as efficient as possible. This means that you can do it on a daily basis and using active ingredients that have been proven in scientific studies. I like to simplify routines as much as possible, so that you don't become a slave to facial care or spend your entire paycheck on it.
In my book on facial blemishes you will see specific care routines. I recommend and the products recommended at each level of phase 1 and phase 2. I will leave several options available considering that you can be anywhere in the world.
But not only will you learn about melasma treatments, in this book I will give you the knowledge to understand why you are getting facial blemishes. I will give you specific care routines you can do at home to improve and change your skin for a true, long-term transformation.
What do you say, do you want to start taking care of yourself and eliminate your facial blemishes? If your answer is: Yes I do! Then you can't miss this book I have written in which you will find many of the answers to your questions.
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