Feel Confident in Your Skin
Melasma
Are you ready to restore a more even skin tone and achieve a clear, radiant complexion? No doubt, having dark and discolored patches on your skin, a condition known as melasma, can often be distressing and embarrassing. But the expert dermatologists at Brentwood Dermatology are here to help.
What is Melasma?
Melasma is a common skin problem that causes brown to gray-brown patches of skin. While melasma can appear anywhere on the body, it most often shows up on the face, usually on the cheeks, bridge of the nose, forehead, chin, and above the upper lip.
While melasma isn’t something to be medically concerned about, and it doesn’t cause any uncomfortable symptoms, melasma can undoubtedly make one feel self-conscious and often embarrassed.
Melasma FAQs
According to medical experts, there isn’t a clear answer to what causes melasma and why some people are more likely to develop melasma than others.
However, research suggests melasma likely occurs when the color-making cells in the skin, otherwise known as melanocytes, produce too much color. People with darker skin color are more prone to melasma because they have more active melanocytes than people with light skin.
Furthermore, some experts believe hormonal fluctuations are a driving factor behind melasma, as this skin condition is incredibly common among pregnant women.
While these two skin conditions appear similarly on the body, there are minor differences between hyperpigmentation and melasma. Hyperpigmentation is a broad term that refers to a skin condition in which the skin is discolored or darkened due to an array of factors, including sun damage, acne scarring, and inflammation.
Melasma, on the other hand, is a skin condition that’s more common in women (it’s often called “the mask of pregnancy”) and is usually more prevalent on specific areas of the face, like the forehead, chin, and above the lip.
Melasma commonly appears as brown or gray-brown patches on the face. These patches most often show up on the:
- Forehead
- Cheeks
- Upper Lip
- Nose
- Chin
- Jawline
That said, some people get patches on areas overly exposed to the sun, such as the forearms or neck, but this is less common.
Currently, there is no cure for melasma, but there are several melasma treatment options that may help reduce and improve the appearance of this common skin condition. On a positive note, if melasma appears during pregnancy, there’s a high chance it will resolve itself in the months following delivery.
At Brentwood Dermatology, our board-certified dermatologists offer several melasma treatment options, including:
- Topical creams that lighten the skin
- Topical steroids
- Chemical peels
- Specific laser procedures
Our experienced dermatologists will work with you to find the best treatment plan that will help you achieve your skincare goals.
Melasma
Contact Brentwood Dermatology for Melasma Treatment
Are you tired of dealing with melasma and discolored skin patches? Our team of experienced board-certified dermatologists at Brentwood Dermatology is here to help you find the best melasma treatment!
Request an appointment online or via telephone at 615-436-8682 and let our expert dermatologists help restore your healthy skin and a glowing appearance!
Have questions or concerns? Please call us at 615.377.3448.