There is a growing demand for treatment for Melasma, which generally occurs in people with a darker skin pigment. Women are more prone to these types of discolored skin patches than men. The condition often appears during pregnancy, or for those experiencing the menopause. It has also been linked to hormone replacement therapy and oral contraception drugs.
Melasma is often an irregular shaped patch of skin that is darker than the rest of the face. It is not unusual for identical patches to appear on opposite sides of the face. Very infrequently they can occur on the forearms. They do not present a real health concern, but can be very noticeable because of where they are. Most people try to remove them for cosmetic reasons.
You can take sensible steps to prevent Melasma, and some more serious skin conditions. Protecting exposed parts of your body, especially your face from the suns rays is essential. If you intend to go out in strong sunlight, you should use a sunscreen and be sure to top it up regularly during the day. After swimming always apply more sunscreen once you have dried yourself.
Some varieties of bleaching creams are available for purchase over the counter. These preparations contain a bleaching ingredient that needs to be applied daily over a period of months. They may help to lighten the discolored patches, but will not remove the patches completely. Over the counter, products are known to have few side effects and those it may cause are minor in nature.
There are several bleaching creams, which can be obtained with a prescription. The ingredients used in prescription creams have more medicinal properties and can be fairly effective for the majority of people. However, there is a greater risk of side effects and adverse reactions to the ingredients contained in the cream. The area being treated can become red, skin starts to dry out and then peels.
Melasma patches and minor skin blemishes can be dealt with effectively using surface peel treatments. They procedure which is quick and easily remove the surface blemish should be carried out by a medical professional. The problem is, that it only works on the surface and the condition can come back fairly quickly.
The deep peel alternative usually produces more long term results. However, because the chemicals used are stronger and they penetrate further into the skin, the recovery period can be fairly long. There is often a more visible reaction on the skin surface to a deep peel and there is a greater risk of infection and adverse reactions to consider.
Laser treatment for melasma, is possibly the best long term option, as it may be several years before the procedure may have to be repeated. The procedure itself may cause some discomfort both during and afterwards. Adequate care has to be taken to protect the skin from sun light to gain the long term benefits. The final option is the intense pulsed light treatment, which can last for up to a year. These are the most expensive treatment options.
The Author Carole Beckshore has heaps of useful information regarding the treatment for melasma. Moreover she writes about the harmful ingredients found in some skin lightening creams in her article on hydroquinone side effects.
