Melasma Specialist

What are the symptoms of melasma?

Melasma can occur anywhere on your body, but it usually affects your face. When you have melasma, you develop small gray-brown patches on your:

• Upper lip 
• Forehead
• Cheeks
• Nose 
• Chin 

While rare, it’s also possible to develop melasma patches on your neck or even forearms. Even though melasma isn’t a medical concern and doesn’t cause discomfort, this condition can become unsightly, which affects your self-esteem. 

Why do I have melasma?

Medical experts aren’t clear as to what causes melasma, but they do understand that the melanocytes in your skin, which produce pigmentation, make too much color. This is why men and women with darker skin are more prone to developing melasma; they have more melanocytes than lighter-skinned people. Your risk of melasma further increases due to:

• Family history of melasma
• Frequent sun exposure
• Indoor tanning 

Gender plays a major role in who has melasma, too. While both men and women experience skin discoloration from melasma, in 90% of cases, women are affected. It’s likely that the changes in hormone levels women experience, particularly during pregnancy or while taking birth control pills, trigger melasma. 

No matter what’s causing your melasma, the dedicated dermatologists at West Derm Center have a treatment solution for you.

How does a dermatologist treat melasma?

When you come to West Derm Center for your melasma appointment, your dermatologist evaluates your skin. They may use a specialized light to see how deep melasma patches go into your skin to determine which treatments may be most effective for you. 

Depending on the severity of your melasma, your dermatologist may recommend any of the following treatments:

• Hydroquinone, tretinoin, or corticosteroid cream 
• A chemical peel, such as a VI Peel® 
• Laser skin therapy 
• Microdermabrasion 

If you’re a woman taking birth control pills, stopping these medications and switching to an alternative form of birth control — such as a non-hormonal intrauterine device (IUD) — may help your melasma fade naturally. Your dermatologist might talk with you about this solution.

If you have melasma, West Derm Center can help. Book your melasma evaluation directly through the website or call any office to speak with a team member directly.