How Can Melasma Be Treated

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.

Can Melasma Be Treated With IPL

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.

Is Laser Treatment Safe For Melasma

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.

Can Laser Treatment Cure Melasma

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.