Melasma is a skin pigmentation issue that’s common. This condition is also known as chloasma or mask of pregnancy
It causes blotchy, dark, and uneven skin tone on areas exposed to the sun, mainly the face. Melasma is more common in women than men. It typically appears for the first time in the age bracket between the 20s to 50s or during pregnancy.
Melasma is medically harmless, but for many people dealing with it, the discoloration causes embarrassment and feeling self-conscious. Feeling ashamed and embarrassed often leads to people seeking treatment. That being said, there is nothing to be afraid of in terms of physical health; it’s more of an emotional or mental bother.
Melasma Symptoms
Melasma causes hyperpigmentation or discolored marks, or darker spots than the surrounding skin. The affected skin will look uneven or blotchy, with irregular borders on the discolored areas.
The discoloration from melasma can range from shades slightly darker than the normal skin color to extremely dark. Depending on a person’s skin tone and the severity of the melasma, the discoloration can range from light brown to almost black.
Melasma spots are flat and not raised. They don’t cause discomfort, pain, burning, or itching. As a matter of fact, a person wouldn’t notice anything different about the affected areas aside from the discoloration.
This skin issue develops in sun-exposed regions of the skin. It often affects the face above the upper lip, across the cheeks, forehead, and nose. However, it can develop anywhere on the face. Melasma can also appear on the upper arms, upper back, and chest, but not as frequently as the face.Something interesting about melasma is that it generally appears symmetrically on the face. It typically presents itself as patches that match on both cheeks or spots that develop across the forehead or nose.
What Causes Melasma?
Melasma develops when there’s an over-abundance of melanin in different areas of the skin. Melanin is a substance that gives our skin, hair, and eyes their color. Those of us with darker complexions have skin that produces more melanin than those with lighter complexions.
Cells in our skin called melanocytes are responsible for creating melanin. It isn’t clear why these cells can sometimes malfunction and begin making extra melanin in certain areas. The excess melanin develops the blotchy dark areas we know as melasma.
The discoloration from melasma is mainly on the epidermis, the uppermost layer of the skin. Growing evidence shows that while hyperpigmentation is localized to our epidermis, the deeper layer of skin also has a role in the development of this skin issue.
Trigger Factors
Various trigger factors make people more susceptible to developing melasma. The more characteristics one has, the more likely one is to develop melasma. However, in some cases, melasma develops without any triggers at all.
- Complexion: Those with olive, medium to medium-dark tones, and you tan easily have a higher chance of developing melasma.
- Hormones: Melasma has been linked to an increase of estrogen hormones, which explains why it presents itself more in women than men. It also makes sense why it develops during pregnancy.
- Pregnancy: It is estimated that melasma affects about 70% of pregnant women, appearing during the second or third trimesters. Again, it’s due to the increased levels of estrogen and progesterone.
- Sun Exposure: Excessive exposure to the sun is an important factor that triggers melasma. People notice that their melasma is more obvious during the summer and fades a bit during the winter.
- Genetics: If your family has a history of melasma, there is a chance that it’s genetically predisposed for you. In that case, limit the other triggers to help avoid developing the skin issue.
There is nothing to be afraid of if you have melasma. There are treatments available and ways to help cope with any insecurities or low self-esteem. Talk to a doctor about what treatment options are available and which would be most suitable for you.
