What is melasma and why is everyone concerned?
One thing that many people are often worried about when they enter their 30s is “melasma”. And the reason people are often worried about melasma is that our clear, beautiful face will have dark spots and will not be as beautiful as before. Moreover, for some people, the melasma that appears is so obvious that makeup cannot cover it up. But what causes melasma? What are the causes of melasma? How can we avoid melasma? In this article, we have the answers.
What causes melasma and how to treat it?
Results depend on each individual’s skin condition.
Melasma is a natural condition that occurs from an abnormality in the production of a type of skin pigment. This abnormality causes the skin to appear as brown spots of various sizes scattered all over the skin. Normally, this condition occurs mainly on the face. There are many causes of melasma, both internal and external factors.
Get to know about melasma (Melasma) by different types of melasma (Melasma). Melasma can be classified as follows:
What causes melasma and how to treat it?
Results depend on each individual’s skin condition.
1. Epidermal type
It is a type of melasma that occurs in the epidermis or the outer and uppermost layer of the skin. Epidermal type melasma will appear as dark brown skin and the darker edges of the skin will be more prominent than other types of melasma.
The special characteristic of epidermal type melasma is that it has a distinct edge color, but it is the easiest type of melasma to treat.
2. Deep melasma (Dermal type)
This type of melasma has its own characteristics that may vary. It can be observed from the color, which can be light brown, gray, or blue-gray. It may be the same color or a mixture, depending on the original characteristics of the skin. However, deep melasma (Dermal type) has a clear color but the edges are light, faint, and unclear. When viewed quickly, it blends with the skin and spreads over a large area of the skin. Deep melasma (Dermal type) is classified as a disorder that occurs in a deeper layer than shallow melasma. It occurs from an abnormality of the dermis layer.
Dermal type melasma is a light-colored melasma, but in reality it is more difficult to treat because it is located deeper in the skin than Epidermal type melasma.
3. Mixed type
This type of melasma is a combination of epidermal and dermal melasma. It is clearly visible that there are both clear-edged and light-edged melasma with a variety of colors such as light brown, dark brown, and gray mixed together in the same area of skin. Mixed melasma requires treatment using a combination of epidermal and dermal melasma to achieve the best treatment results.
Mixed type melasma is a shallow melasma area that can be easily treated to fade. Results may be seen quickly in the shallow melasma treatment. However, for deep melasma, it still takes time and gradual steps. Therefore, treatment must be done together to achieve good results.
4. Other blemishes (Etc.)
Other types of melasma are those that are red spots of blood vessels. This type of melasma can be seen as red patches or as small capillaries all over the face. Or it may be seen as red-brown or pink spots that gradually darken. This type of melasma is caused by abnormalities of the capillaries on the face. And will be worse when exposed to very strong sunlight because sunlight affects the clustering of capillaries and then breaks.
The characteristics of other types of melasma (Etc.) are the visible appearance of small blood vessels scattered across the face, ranging in color from light pink, dark pink, to brown.
What causes melasma? How to treat it?
Results depend on each individual’s skin condition.
There are many causes of melasma, including:
1. Genetics
Skin pigmentation or skin symptoms are genetically inherited and may or may not occur because they are only latent symptoms. In this case, they are considered uncontrollable.
2. Sunlight (Ultraviolet)
It is one of the main factors that causes melasma, or it can be called an accelerator or stimulant that directly causes the creation of skin pigment cells or what is called Melanocyte. Sunlight enters the skin, accelerating the creation of pigment and causing the distribution of pigment to various layers of the skin to cause various types of melasma and accelerating the darkening of the skin color, causing melasma that becomes clearer and clearer.
3. Hormones
Hormones are another factor that causes melasma. It is most noticeable in pregnant women and in both male and female birth control pills. In addition, birth control pills are another major factor that makes melasma difficult to treat.
What amount of melasma can be treated and give the best results?
To get good results from melasma treatment, treatment should be started immediately upon discovering that you have melasma or dark spots that have no origin. You should not wait until they are severe or have a clear color. Treatment should be started while there is still not much melasma on your face or you can consult a doctor immediately if dark spots on your face appear without a known cause to prevent them from building up and to make them treatable in the future.
How to choose the right sunscreen to prevent melasma? How should you choose?
It must be understood that applying sunscreen does not make melasma disappear or fade. However, in some cases, it can prevent future melasma. When choosing a sunscreen to prevent melasma, you must choose a sunscreen with SPF50+ PA++ or higher because these amounts are SPF and PA that can protect and protect the skin from UVA and UVB rays, as well as adequately protect the skin from the sun. When applying sunscreen, you must apply an amount equal to 1 heaped finger, or approximately 2 milligrams per square centimeter. If you apply less than that, the skin will not be protected as well as it should be. Importantly, you should apply it 10-30 minutes before going out into the sun and should reapply every 2 hours for good results.
What causes melasma? How to treat it?
Results depend on each individual’s skin condition.
How should melasma be treated?
• Treat melasma by applying medication.
Melasma treatment medication must contain hydroquinone, which is a dangerous topical medication and must be controlled by a doctor only. This is because it is a dangerous drug if used in excessive amounts. It can cause pigment cells to die, leading to vitiligo on the skin if not under the control of a doctor.
• Treat melasma by taking medication.
Drugs in the Tranexamic acid group can fade existing melasma, according to research. However, taking drugs to treat melasma must be under the supervision of a doctor, as this type of drug is highly dangerous because it affects blood clotting, as well as having side effects on blood cells and other skin pigments.
• Treat melasma by exfoliating skin cells.
Exfoliating with fruit acids is a method that many people believe will remove melasma. However, on the other hand, this method can actually remove melasma but has many side effects such as making the skin thin, easily sunburned when exposed to sunlight, dark spots, and possible allergies or burning in some cases.
• Treat melasma with treatments.
It is a facial care process that helps eliminate skin problems such as dull skin, damaged skin by restoring, nourishing and providing nutrients according to the skin’s needs, helping to reduce the appearance of dark spots.
• Treat melasma with injections.
It is the use of a small needle to inject medicine into the shallow skin layer. This is the distribution of medicine to treat freckles and melasma into the problematic cell layer. The medicine will inhibit the production of skin pigments.
• Treat melasma with laser treatment.
It is the best method if done by a doctor and using standard equipment in a reliable and certified service center. However, to get good results from laser without side effects, it must be done by a doctor because the doctor will assess the symptoms of melasma, thickness, depth, and adjust the energy appropriately. It does not burn the skin, does not thin the skin, and is also reliable. However, the treatment must be done continuously and regularly.
All treatment methods can be performed at Rassapoom Clinic in all 6 ways.
