A beautiful and clear skin is what everyone wants. Nothing is more envied than a skin with a clear complexion. But sometimes, we get blotchy, brownish patches on our skin which are known as uneven pigmentation or Melasma. It is caused by excess production of melanin in our body. The pigmentation can be caused by direct contact with harmful sun rays, pollution or other environmental changes, hormonal imbalance, pregnancy and sometimes as a symptom of some chronic internal organ disease or the medication taken for such diseases. Melasma is more common in women than men and affects between the age of 20-40 years. Hence, it is important to consult a Dermatologist to get the right diagnosis and right treatment on time in order to get rid of pigmentation on face.

Types of Melasma

  • Epidermal Melasma: This type of pigmentation responds well to treatment and has a prominent dark brown colour which can be easily distinguished from the normal skin.
  • Dermal Melasma: This kind of Melasma is light brown or blue coloured and merges with the original skin colour.
  • Mixed Melasma: This type of pigmentation on the face is very common. It is a combination of Epidermal and Dermal pigmentation and hence is a mix of dark brown, light brown and blue coloured patches. There’s only partial improvement in mixed melasma with the help of an expert treatment.

Treatment

There are some Adjuvant treatments which help you get rid of pigmentation on face.

  • Chemical Peels: Skin peeling has been used as skin rejuvenation therapy for centuries in the form of sour milk to red wine facials and baths. Chemical peels remove the top layer of the skin and help the new skin to grow back there by imparting a younger, fresher skin with improved texture.
  • Meso Facials: A complex and extremely effective lightening treatment that illuminates the complexion reduces discolouration and evens out skin tone. Vitamin C and other active ingredients infused into the skin using electrophoration provide protection from free radicals and renew the epidermal layer of your skin.
  • Insta-Glow Peel Facial: Designed for individuals for whom time is a luxury. These quick-fix secrets will have your skin looking nourished, hydrated and glowing in no time at all.
  • Laser Toning: A treatment using 1064 nm wavelength of Q Switched Nd: YAG laser, based on the principle of selective destruction of pigmented cells.

General Measures:

It isn’t really difficult to have a flawless skin. If we take care of our skin and make it a routine we can avoid pigmentation on face/skin. Here are some points which can be practised in daily life to avoid pigmentation:

  • Refrain from direct exposure to sunlight and use sunscreen lotions as recommended by your dermatologist.
  • Be careful of what you eat. Include healthy and fresh foods in your diet and avoid oily, packed or junk foods.
  • Make it a habit to maintain personal hygiene.
  • Stay happy. Because in some cases it has been found that emotional stress can cause excess production of melanin.
  • You can use make-up if you want to hide the pigmentation on your face.

Melasma takes time to get recovered even if you take proper treatment from a dermatologist. So, it is advisable to take care of your daily routine to prevent the pigmentation and consult a dermatologist as soon as you start seeing the symptoms.