Your skin and you. Are you suffering from Melasma?
4 ways to keep Melasma from getting worse:
- 1) Maintain a daily routine by wearing sunscreen
- 2) Selecting the right skin care regime
- 3) Maintain a strict routine in applying your skin care
- 4) Always use sunglasses and a wide-brimmed hat when you are in the sun and choose wisely the times you spend in the sun.
There are 4 seasons of the year but there is one season, summer that will put you at the greatest risk for sun damage.
Depending on your ethnicity whether you are Latin/Hispanic, North African, African- American, Asian, Indian, Middle Eastern or Mediterranean descent, you are more susceptible to melasma.
Melasma are irregular dark spots that appear on your cheeks, around the eyes, on the forehead, the chin and the upper lip area.
These areas do not occur in the same places on everyone. One person may have it only on their cheeks and nose, while another person’s melasma may be over the jaw. The neck and forearms can also be affected.
Treatment:
- Use makeup products that contain Retin-A and retinol, also called retinoids
- Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C)
- Although hydroquinone showed a better subjective response, ascorbic acid/vitamin C should be used in melasma treatment because it has so few side-effects.
- It can be used alone or in combination with other products Niacinamide, also Known as Vitamin B3 or Niacin. Niacinamide works well in a corrective moisturizer to decrease hyperpigmentation and increase skin lightness.
- It has the added benefit of clearing and tightening skin, while reducing wrinkles. It is an excellent ingredient for a daily skin care regimen – particularly in cases of dry and/or sensitive skin
- Use products that are formulated without parabens and phthalates
- Look for camouflage products if your melasma is extremely dark such as Dermablend skin care
- Talk to your dermatologist to see what treatment may be available such as chemical peels