If you experience melasma, it can be a worrying and unsightly experience. But for those at higher risk of this health condition, it is important to understand what causes it, ways of treating it and associated potential risks.
Treatments
There are a few ways that can help to remedy this potentially embarrassing skin condition, including skin-lightening creams, cosmetic procedures or topical steroids. However, in many cases, chloasma will fade on its own, typically when the pregnancy has ended or your hormones have a chance to rebalance naturally. For some people, melasma will return at other times in their life, making the avoidance of direct skin exposure often the best treatment/preventative measure. [1]
Melasma is a skin condition. Photo Credit: Shutterstock
Cosmetic Procedures
Chemical peels or dermabrasion have been known to be quite effective in lessening the appearance of these patches of skin. This is particularly effective for epidermal melasma, as it only affects the top layers of skin, which are often removed through these procedures. [2]
Skin-Lightening Creams
Certain creams are able to lighten the skin, allowing you to blend the darker regions of your skin into the surrounding areas. These creams aren’t effective for dermal melasma, but can often help lessen how obvious the condition appears.
Topical Steroids
Certain types of topical steroids can be directly applied to the discolored areas to stimulate proper balance of skin pigment cells. This is not always successful, but it is a relatively non-invasive and simple remedy for some people.
