Everything You Need to Know About Melasma

You may not realize it, but melasma is a skin condition that tends to affect mostly women. 90 percent of melasma sufferers are women.

What is melasma exactly? It’s a skin condition that causes dark patches on the face. 

These dark patches sometimes form a net-like pattern. Many find that it can undermine their self-esteem.

The condition not only tends to affect women more than men, but it is more common in more ethnic skin types, such as Asian women.

What Causes Melasma?

Surprisingly, melasma is something of a hormonal issue, which makes sense since it tends to affect women. 

It is fundamentally a pigmentation condition, and this abnormal pigmentation occurs when the individual is experiencing increased sensitivity to estrogen.

What could cause this increased sensitivity? There’s no singular cause, but a common case is pregnancy. Hence why melasma used to be called ‘the mask of pregnancy.’

Hormonal changes in general, however, can cause melasma–such as HRT, starting birth control, or menopause.

What Can Be Done About Melasma?

Melasma is a condition that can’t be cured, but it can certainly be treated. Many times the condition resolves itself, if hormonal levels go back to normal.

Brightening creams can work to reduce the aesthetic effect of melasma, and, interestingly, light fruit-acid peels can be effective as well.

For more severe cases of melasma, laser treatments are an option as well.

If patients do opt for laser treatment, they should make sure to avoid direct sun exposure–not for any safety reasons, but simply because it will undermine the efficacy of the treatment.

Suffering from melasma and want to know how to choose between different treatment options? 

It’s important to do your research. If you want to know more, call Cultura to schedule an appointment with one of our medical professionals today.

Dr. Eliot Battle

CEO & Founder at Cultura Dermatology & Plastic Surgery

Dr. Eliot Battle, CEO of Cultura Dermatology, is a global leader in cosmetic dermatology and laser innovation. His Harvard research pioneered “color-blind” lasers, making treatments safe for all skin tones. A sought-after expert featured in TIME, Oprah, and The New York Times, he continues to advance inclusive, cutting-edge dermatological care.