Learning More On Melasma Treatment

Melasma is a condition that affects the skin and is found mostly in women; however it can affect males but it is very rare. This skin condition tends to affect women who are taking hormones or in their child bearing years. Gathering more knowledge on the different types will aid in determining the best and most effective Melasma treatment.

The facial region is usually the area generally affected with this skin condition. It is characterized by patches of discoloration ranging in color from brown, tan and blue-gray. It has not yet been determined what the exact cause of this condition is but the medical community tends to believe it arises from exposure to the sun or hormones from medication or pregnancy.

Males can become infected with the skin condition but it is very rare. Statistics show that approximately ninety percent of all cases involve women. With that being the case, approximately six-million women suffer from this unsightly skin condition. The areas which seem to be inflicted the majority of the time are upper lip, forehead, cheeks and jaws; it is possible for other regions to contract the skin condition but highly unlikely.

Four types of this skin condition have been identified and they are; epidermal, dermal, mixed and unnamed. Each type is signified by certain pigmentation patterns. The epidermal for has excess melanin on the skin; the dermal form has melanophages that are in the dermis layer of the skin; the mixed has both melanin and melanophages; the final form has been unnamed but is found more in darker skinned individuals and is characterized by melanocytes in the skin.

Diagnosing this skin condition is not difficult; the hard part comes when trying to distinguish which type is present. Generally a visual evaluation will determine if you have the skin condition. Determining which type is usually done with the use of a black light or Woods light. Sometimes when this does not work a skin biopsy can be used however this is done on rare occasions.

Hydroquinone creams are the most popular treatment for this skin condition. Any of the creams containing two percent or less of HQ can be purchased over the counter anything containing over two percent HQ will require a prescription to be purchased. Another way of treating this condition is to use sunscreen and avoid exposure to the sun. There are times when the skin will clear on its own without any treatment.

Treatment can also come in the form of chemical peels, microdermabrasion or laser therapy; however none of these have quite the same results as the HQ creams. The most used and highly recommended treatment is the cream. Melasma treatment does exist for those suffering from this skin condition.

When you are looking for a cosmetic surgeon in Orange County, CA, then you should consider Richard Weiss MD, Newport Beach‘s noted expert in laser skin renewal procedures. From unwanted freckles to acne scars, he can remove dermal blemishes and restore your skin’s natural appearance using laser surgery, dermabarasion and other highly effective medical techniques.