Melasma Causes & Treatment
Many spent years trying to find the right melasma treatment or chloasma for their condition. It is very important to seek for experienced doctors for melasma treatment in Singapore. They can provide you with the right information, diagnosis and treatments such as laser to achieve your desired result. Hence, saving you money, time and emotional distress.
What is Melasma
Melasma is a very common patchy brown, tan, or blur-grey facial skin discolouration on the skin and face, usually seen in women in the reproductive years and sometimes in men as well. The condition is also known by many other names, including hyperpigmentation, sun spots, dark spots, pregnancy mask, facial pigmentation, etc.
It generally forms on the forehead, upper cheeks, upper lip, and chin of women who are between 20 to 50 years old. Factors such as exposure to sunlight, intake of birth control pills and similar external hormones, and internal hormonal changes such as those caused by pregnancy. People suffering from melasma are usually found to have a history of constant exposure to sunlight and heat. Melasma is most prevalent among pregnant women, particularly from Latin and Asian descent. It has been observed in relatively higher ratios in people with olive complexion, or darker skin. Therefore, Hispanic, Asian, and Middle Eastern natives and ancestry are genetically predisposed to melasma.
What Causes Melasma?
Melasma has yet to be definitively identified as the cause of melasma. But medical experts have stated that several factors, including pregnancy, birth control pills, hormone replacement therapy, and a family history of melasma, are the conditions that could lend themselves to the manifestation of the condition, particularly in individuals who have this tendency.
Pregnancy
Melasma occurs during pregnancy, is also known as chloasma. During pregnancy, women in their second and third semesters experience an increase in oestrogen, progesterone, and melanocyte-stimulating hormone (MSH). Melanocytes are cells responsible for pigmentation in the skin. It is believed that progesterone, not oestrogen or MSH, is the culprit in pregnancy-related melasma. Melasma incidence has also been linked to progesterone therapy in post-menopausal women.
Genetic
Similarly, persons having a genetic predisposition or family history of melasma or chloasma are potentially more vulnerable the possibility of developing melasma. Such people must avoid exposure to sunlight, and step outdoors only after applying extra sunblock to prevent stimulation of pigment production.
Harsh Products and Treatments
The use of wrong products or treatments can worsen the condition of melasma. Many over-the-counter skin care products contain harsh ingredients that can irritate the skin and make melasma worse. Treatments such as chemical peels and laser treatments can also cause melasma to spread or become more severe.
Melasma Treatments Available in Singapore
Two types of patients are prone to suffer from Melasma
1) Women who develop Melasma as a result of hormonal changes due to pregnancy or the use of birth control pills. For these individuals, the melasma condition will gradually subside after delivery, or once they stop using birth-control pills.
2) Individuals who are afflicted with long-term or permanent Melasma, following exposure UV rays and other factors.
While there are several treatment options available in the market, to reduce or eliminate these patches, not all treatments are uniformly effective for everyone. There are also instances where recurrence of melasma, may take place even after treatment concludes successfully.
Dr Thean is known for his long years of aesthetics experience in the field of pigmentation, acne and scars. He has specially designed this treatment that illuminates hypergpigmentation, using a range of laser combinations, including pico laser and yellow laser or radiofrequency microneedling. This method effortlessly treats the vast majority of undesirable skin spots. The treatment is also effective for addressing discoloration or redness on the skin or face. These conditions are caused by blood vessels that are located amid the deeper network of veins, far beyond the usual depths that conventional lasers are able to access. Since pigmentation occurs at various depths of the skin, we offer a range of Melasma treatments in Singapore. Dr. Thean personally devises a combination of treatments tailored to address your dark spots effectively.
