Have you noticed skin darkening along with pigmentation? You might be suffering from melasma, a common skin disorder in which brown patches appear on the skin. It usually affects the skin on the face and neck, especially the areas often exposed to the sun.  

In this blog, we’ll tackle how you can get rid of melasma and achieve smoother, more radiant, and blemish-free skin. But first, what is melasma? 

What is melasma? 

Melasma is a skin condition wherein dark brown pigmentation patches appear on sun-exposed skin areas, more commonly seen on the face. The most common areas where melasma develops are the cheeks, chin, nose, forehead, and skin above the upper lip.  

Though melasma, or “pekas”, is not physically harmful, a study has shown that it could negatively impact the quality of life of those affected, including their psychological health.  

Melasma stems from exposing the skin to ultraviolet light from the sun, which triggers the body to produce more pigment. In some instances, the pigment appears unevenly, leading to patches and freckle-like spots. In addition, UV light can penetrate the skin’s outermost layer and induces reactive oxygen species or free radicals. As a result, these trigger melanin production in the skin. Prolonged and cumulative sun exposure has been tied to hyperpigmentation, which can cause chronic discoloration.  

Some causes of melasma include pregnancy, sun exposure, genetics, phototoxic drugs, cosmetics, and antiseizure medicines.  

How common is melasma? 

Though the prevalence of melasma among Filipinos is low, it’s an emerging skin condition. In a study among patients seeking treatment from dermatologists, 1.26 percent of over 12,000 patients were clinically diagnosed with melasma. A majority of the patients were between 41 and 50 years old. Further, melasma was more prevalent in women than in men.  

Worldwide, an estimated 1 percent of the population has melasma, up to 9 to 50 percent in higher-risk populations. Meanwhile, in the United States, melasma affects over 5 million people.  

How is melasma treated? 

The best treatment for melasma is a topical combination of creams and avoiding prolonged sun exposure. Currently, there is no cure for melasma, but several medicines and treatment options are available to manage the condition.  

Sunscreen 

One of the most effective ways to manage melasma is a sunscreen with an SPF of 50 and above. This way, your skin will not take any more damage from the sun.  

Topical creams 

The first line of treatment for melasma is skin-lightening medications that are applied topically. These include medicines containing azelaic acid, kojic acid, hydroquinone, tranexamic acid, niacinamide, and cysteamine. These medicines diminish pigment production by limiting excess blood vessels in the skin.  

Oral medicine 

Dermatologists also recommend oral medicines since they work from the inside out. For example, medicines containing procyanidin are some of the drugs prescribed to treat melasma. One example is Pynocare, which contains procyanidin, ascorbic acid, beta-carotene, and d-Alpha tocopheryl acetate, normalizing melanin levels and reducing the appearance of dark spots.  

Skin peels 

Skin peels are also recommended, but they carry a risk of adverse outcomes. Usually, salicylic acid and glycolic acid are traditionally used, which boost the turnover of hyperpigmented keratinocytes. However, skin peels should only be performed after a therapy trial of one skin-lightening agent. The doctor should also closely monitor skin depigmentation and stop the treatment if changes in pigmentation on the surrounding skin are seen.  

Laser therapy 

In some cases, light-based procedures like intense pulsed light, non-ablative fractionated lasers are used to treat melasma.  

How is melasma prevented? 

As the famous adage goes, prevention is better than cure. Since melasma is extremely hard to treat, preventing its appearance is crucial.  

One of the most effective ways to prevent melasma is by avoiding facial sun exposure. However, since melasma run in families, it might be harder to prevent the condition from developing, but it helps to protect the skin from further damage. Melasma is also more common with age, so those at risk should take extra precautions by avoiding the sun. If it’s impossible to avoid exposure, it’s vital to protect the skin with sunscreens, hats, sunglasses, and other physical blockers.  

The takeaway 

Melasma is a complex skin condition to treat, but with the help of dermatologists, you can reduce hyperpigmentation, revealing radiant and young-looking skin. It’s important to remember that though melasma is incurable, many ways exist to minimize pigmentation and halt the skin condition’s progression.  

The first step is to book a consultation with your doctor to plan your treatment regimen. Also, ensure you don’t let your skin suffer sun damage by failing to protect it. You should use sunscreens and protective clothing when staying long under the sun. Lastly, always seek medical attention when you observe changes in your skin’s color, texture, and appearance.