To treat melasma successfully, you must find out what triggers melasma in the first. If your skin develop melasma easily under the sun, then you should avoid the sun or wear a sunscreen. If it is due to your hormones, then find a way to keep them in balance. There are other things you can do for your melasma like using a dark spot corrector, get enough sleep and eat healthily.
Patience is a must when treating melasma. It takes time for melasma to respond to the treatment.
Whatever treatment you decide, make sure it is not harsh to the extent that it cause contact dermatitis, which eventually will lead to postinflammatory hyperpigmentation.
Exfoliation can rejuvenate your skin by stimulating new layer of skin to grow. But can it reduce melasma?
Probably if your melasma is superficial, the chances are good. Some women tried costly dermatological procedures such as IPL, chemical peels and microdermabrasion but there were no improvement.
However, when they exfoliate their skin, they could see the melasma greatly reduced.
One key fact to remember is that nothing is permanent. The moment you step into the sun, you will start to see your melasma again.
If you decide to exfoliate your skin, make it as part of your daily skin care regimen. This is the secret to manage melasma successfully.
Julia, my friend had been battling with melasma ever since her first child was born. She is now in the forties and her descent is Latino.
Her melasma began with symmetrical round masks on both cheeks. Gradually, they covered the whole cheeks.She also had one brown patch on her forehead.
She had tried everything except laser which was too expensive for her. She started to improve her makeup skills, and finally she managed to make her melasma less evident.
Here is her morning routine with makeup.
- She washes her face with a good cleanser.
- Then she applies sunless tanner on lighter areas. For the dark areas, she uses an OTC skin lightening cream.
- Let it set for 5 minutes.
- Then she applies tinted correcting primer on her face followed by a foundation. For even tone, use a brush to blend both light and dark areas.
- Lastly, finish it with a bronzer on the light areas. Make sure it blends with the dark areas.
These steps should make your melasma less noticeable. Remember that this is a temporary fix.
Retin-A (tretinoin) is applied topically on melasma. It can be harsh. Sometimes, you may end up with contact dermatitis.
Doctors still do not understand how Retin-A reduce melasma. Probably the best explanation goes like this. Retin-A is used for skin exfoliation to encourage new cells to be generated. This process removes dead skin cells which build up on the surface of the skin and hold excess melanin within them.
According to Skin Care Center, it may take up to 24 weeks to see improvements. Most often, Retin-A is used together with other tyrosinase inhibitors such as azelaic acid or hydroquinone for better results.
It would be ideal if laser can just remove the pigments without affecting the cells. One laser that can do that is IPL. You have to use tyrosinase inhibitors such as hydroquinone, tretinoin, and steroid before and after laser therapy. However, there is risk of post inflammatory pigmentation which may delay recovery. This is an important fact to know as you need to attend several sessions of IPL.
There are different types of laser treatment for melasma. The cost varies from one type of laser to another. The cost will be higher if you require more than one session. Adding to the cost will also depend on the experience of the doctor. So, how much is laser treatment for melasma?
For fractional lasers, one session can cost more than $1,000. Probably 3 to 4 treatments are required for a duration of between 3 and 6 months.
The question of safety with laser in treating melasma is still controversial. If you are using Fraxel, open wound is almost non existent. So the chances of developing postinflammatory pigmentation are low.
It is important to choose the right laser for your melasma. It all boils down to correct settings of the laser to minimize any potential side effects while striving to get best results. Thus, choosing the right doctor with experience is essential.
Based on the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), facial melasma is due to the imbalance of
- yin and yang,
- internal organs,
- chi (energy) and blood, and
- the channels and collaterals.
Acupuncture is a long-term treatment. Needles are placed at certain meridian points to correct the imbalances that cause melasma. As a long-term therapy, do not expect to see instant result. Make sure you find a qualified acupuncturist.
Melasma is a clear sign of an uneven distribution of the melanin on your face. It appears as a symmetrical mask-like pattern. This makes many women feel depressed about their appearances.
If you have these brown patches during pregnancy, it is known as chloasma or the mask of pregnancy. Although hormones seems to be the major contributor, but excessive sun exposure can make your spots more noticeable.
You can use laser therapy and chemical peel to reduce melasma. However, there are a few options that can fade melasma naturally. Apple cider vinegar, lemon juice, and aloe vera are some of the most effective home remedies for hyperpigmentation.
How To Use Apple Cider Vinegar To Treat Melasma
Apple cider vinegar (ACV) is considered to be the best home remedies for melasma on the face. You can either use it topically or orally. Make sure you get the organic apple cider vinegar.
For topical application, dilute the apple cider vinegar equally with water. Apply the solution on your melasma. Do not wipe dry with a towel. Just let it dry on its own.
To take ACV orally can be difficult at first as you need to acquire the taste. You start by mixing one teaspoon of ACV in a glass of water. Once you are used to the taste, you can increase it to one tablespoon.
It is best to drink ACV everyday so your melasma will not return.
Why Apple Cider Vinegar Works On Melasma
ACV is rich with acetic acid. It is a mild alpha hydroxy acid. It has lightening effects.
Never use it directly on the spots. It may cause discoloration and minor burns as the acid can be too strong for your skin. That is why you need to dilute it with water.
How To Use Lemon Juice To Lighten Melasma
Squeeze a lemon and apply the juice on the skin with a cotton swab. If you find your skin to be dry after the application, apply moisturer. This will help to keep your skin hydrated. By applying it regularly on the brown spots, they will gradually fade.
Why Lemon Juice Works On Melasma
Lemon juice is loaded with vitamin C and citric acid. Vitamin C has been shown to brigthen the skin while citric acid acts as an exfoliator. The exfoliation removes the topmost layer of the skin which holds excess melanin. This also encourages new skin to form. Over time, the visibility of your melasma should be less noticeable.
How To Treat Melasma Naturally With Aloe Vera
Place the aloe vera on the face before bedtime. Use your finger tips to massage the gel in a circular motion. Leave it for 15 minutes. Then rinse it with warm water.
Why Aloe Vera Works On Melasma
Aloe Vera contains mucilaginous polysaccharides (MPS) that can lighten hyperpigmentation.
Should You Treat Melasma Naturally During Pregnancy
When you are pregnant, your hormones are still out of balance. Thus, it is difficult to treat melasma especially with natural remedies. It is better to treat it after you have delivered your baby. Furthermore, your melasma may fade on its own since the hormonal trigger is removed after pregnancy.
You can use these melasma natural treatments with the best skin lightener such as Meladerm to maximize the desired results. Sometimes, home remedy alone may not work and it requires a combination of treatments. You can learn more about Meladerm Pigment Reducing Complex at http://www.fairskindiva.com.
Although presently, you can't cure melasma but there are some treatment options to reduce its appearance. The time frame for results depends on the type of melasma you have. It is easier to treat superficial pigmentation than dermal pigmentation.
If you want to treat your melasma, the most important step is to determine the causes of melasma. Please bear in mind that melasma responds slowly to treatment. You need to be patient.
There is no cure for melasma at this time even with laser. The results are variable. It may help about 33% of the time according to Medscape. Even if there is an improvement, it would be just on the surface of the skin.
Quick fixes with lasers not only produce unpredictable results but you have to deal with potential side effects such as scarring and postinflammatory hyperpigmentation. If you are considering laser treatment, it should not be your first choice.
Choose a very low-energy and low-impact laser such as Q-switched YAG laser. Irritation and inflammation resulting from high energy laser can worsen melasma. For best results, combine it with microdermabrasion and a skin lightening cream.
