When you look in the mirror, do you see gray or brown patches? Have you ever wondered what they were and why you have them? Well, they actually have a name: melasma.
Melasma patches typically show up on your face in the following areas:
- Chin
- Cheeks
- Forehead
- Nose
- Top lip
While melasma on the face tends to be the most troubling, patches of it can also appear on your arms and neck. That’s because these areas of your body are exposed to the sun more often than other areas.
Although melasma patches are harmless, people who have them sometimes feel embarrassed by them and want to have them removed. However, the technology didn’t exist until recently to eliminate them entirely.
The reason melasma has been historically difficult to treat is that it can occur at the deepest layers of the skin. Additionally, people often confuse it with sun damage and don’t seek the proper treatment for it. The primary difference between sun damage and melasma is the source of skin discoloration.
Melasma occurs due to pigmentation changes affected by the body’s hormones. Although sun exposure can make it worse, it’s not the primary cause of the condition. It’s much more common in women because of the rapid hormonal changes of pregnancy, menopause, and oral contraceptives. In the past, doctors considered it a permanent condition. But thanks to laser technology, melasma doesn’t have to be a permanent part of your life any longer.
Options to Treat Your Melasma
By the time many women seek assistance, they’ve tried everything they can think of to get rid of their melasma patches. Common solutions such as wearing sunscreen with a high sun protection factor (SPF) or staying out of the sun entirely don’t work since the condition is hormonal and not environmental. You need professional treatment for your melasma. At Dermatology Associates, we offer two different treatment options:
- Laser Peel: This treatment removes the top layers of skin to eliminate blemishes and give you the smooth, youthful appearance you desire. Your doctor customizes your laser peel treatment to your specific needs.
- Picosure® Laser Treatment: Picosure sends ultra-short light pulses to the skin that specifically target the melasma patches, which shatter the pigment underneath the skin without using heat which can exacerbate the condition.
These are both excellent laser treatment choices for eliminating your melasma. If you’d like to learn more about them, or would like to get started on your treatment, click here to schedule a free consultation with us.
Dermatology Associates offers a full spectrum of leading edge medical, surgical, and cosmetic dermatology services from offices in Savannah and Vidalia.
