MELASMA TRIGERS AND SOLUTIONS

Summer is officially here and we are all looking forward to a long beach vacation but by October as your tan will be almost gone, a glance in the mirror may still show some darkened patches on your skin that seem to be sticking around. These brown or grayish-brown blotches, typically on the forehead, chin, cheeks, upper lip, or nose, may signal a condition called melasma.
Melasma is sometimes referred to as the mask of pregnancy, because it is sometimes triggered by an increase in hormones in pregnant women. But while the condition may be common among pregnant women, it isn't limited to them 
Causes
Doctors do not fully understand why melasma occurs. It may be due to the malfunction of the melanocytes (the color-making cells) in the skin, causing them to produce too much color.
As a result, people with darker skin tones are more likely to develop melasma, as they have more melanocytes than people with lighter skin.
Potential triggers for melasma include:

• changes in hormones during pregnancy (chloasma), hormone treatment, or while taking birth control pills
• heat
• sun exposure
• certain skin care products, if they irritate a person’s skin

Also, there may be a genetic component to melasma, as people whose close relatives have experienced melasma are more likely to develop it themselves.

​The Solution
Treatment is not always necessary for melasma.
If hormonal changes, such as those that occur during pregnancy or while taking birth control pills, have caused melasma, it will fade after delivery or once a person stops taking the pills.
For other people, melasma can last for years or even for the rest of their lives. If melasma does not fade over time, a person can seek treatment to help remove or fade the patches.
However, not all treatments work for everyone, and melasma may come back even after successful treatment.
Treatment options for melasma include:
1. Hidroquinone is a prescription cream that will help lighten the patches. Apply directly on the dark areas at night and protect your skin during the day.
2. Microdermabrassion, Chemical Peels and light therapy  will reduce the pigment discoloration on the skin.
3. Avoiding the known triggers such as

• Unprotected light exposure - wear mineral SPF indoors and outdoors
• Heat lamps, cellphones, blow driers or steam, hot beverages, long showers and saunas, aviator sunglasses or any sunglasses with a metal frame as they absorb and dissipate heat on your cheeks and eye area. 
• Irritating skin care products, especially fragranced products. Fragrance is highly irritating and mixed with sun it could cause "PHOTO DERMATITIS