Melasma, an introduction

What is Melasma?Melasma is a condition that creates patches of darker skin due to over production of Melanin . Melanin is the pigment that gives colour to our skin. The more melanine you produce the darker your skin colour. This is why you will not see this condition on albinos (who do not produce melanin at all) or on people with dark skin. This over production of melanin is similar to those who suffer hay fever and other kinds of allergies in the sense that their bodies over react to an external stimuli. In the case of Melasma the external stimuli is the sun.The body will create melanine when our skin is exposed to the sun, this is what people know as tanning. The porpoise of tanning is to protect the body from sun damage. If we didn’t produce melanine any amount of sun could burn the skin. Melasma occurs when patches of skin overproduce melanine making certain areas of the body a lot darker than the rest. What parts of the body are normally affected byMelasma?Melasma appears as a dark patch of skin in the arms (in the case of Latin) and in the face = lips, upper lips, upper cheeks and forehead (in the case of German, Jewish, Russian descent) and on all areas in the case of Asians. Melasma can appear in men but it is very unlikely.Who is more commonly affected by Melasma?Melasma will appear mainly on tanned and Brown skins. It affects mainly women who live in areas off the world where the sun shines brighter, that is on all parts of the world near and around the Equator. This means that most Latin American women and Asian women can present this condition. You might also see this condition in people of German, Jewish and Russian descent.The cycle ofmelanin production?Sun shines hits the skin – Estrogen and Progesterone hormones are stimulated (female hormones) – Estrogen and Progesterone stimulate the melanocytes (pigment producing cells) – melanocytes produce melanine. How can I avoid developing the condition?This is a chronic condition passed down from parents to children. There is no cure though there are a few things you can do to minimise its appearance:• The one most important thing you should try to do in avoid the sunlight• If sun avoidance is not possible then make sure you wear a hat on sunny days, sun block, and protective clothing• Never go on sunbedsIf you live in a country with seasons it will be possible that the darker patches lighten up when winter sets in as the affected areas might be covered and the sunlight will not shine as strong as in countries in the equator.This is a very slow developing condition so if you do not have signs of it but are aware that your mum or aunties have had it, it will be wise to take precautionary measures.What is the "Mask of Pregnancy"?Melasma is also known as “The Mask of Pregnancy” because it appears around the face area (like a mask) during pregnancy. This is due to the change in hormone levels that affect pregnant women in order to prepare their bodies to accept and keep this foreign organism growing inside them. This type of Melasma will disappear a few months after giving birth, when the hormone levels return to normal.What can I do to get rid of these dark patches?In the case of those women who get Melasma during pregnancy it is recommended for them to wait a few months to allow their bodies to recover. It after a few months your skin does not go back to normal it can be treated with IPL (Intense Pulse Light). This treatment can also be applied on people with the genetic predisposition to it. But it is essential to follow the guidelines of avoiding the sun once you have been treated in order to minimise, or even prevent having to go through this treatment again.