What is melasma?
Melasma is a common skin condition that causes darker skin patches, usually on your face. You might notice skin discoloration on your:
- Forehead
- Cheeks
- Nose
- Chin
- Above the upper lip
- Neck
- Forearms
Melasma doesn’t cause health problems, but can be unsightly, embarrassing, and make you look older than you’d like.
What are the risk factors for melasma?
Hormones appear to trigger melasma, and it’s much more common in women than men. Examples of factors that increase your risk of melasma include:
- Pregnancy
- Taking birth control pills
- Hormone replacement therapy
Melasma can become worse if you use skincare products that irritate your skin or don’t protect your skin from the sun. That’s why this skin condition is often more common in the summer.
What is the treatment for melasma?
After reviewing your medical history and examining your skin, providers at Gorgeous D’Luxe Aesthetics let you know which melasma treatment best matches your needs. They might recommend:
- Topical medications
- Microdermabrasion
- Chemical peels
- Dermabrasion
- PicoSure laser treatment
Prior to PicoSure treatment, your provider uses a numbing cream to make the experience comfortable. The PicoSure laser delivers highly targeted energy to disrupt skin pigment particles.
It activates your body’s natural immune response using gentle pressure without damaging surrounding tissues. Without numbing cream, you might feel a sensation of rubber bands snapping against your skin. The procedure may take about 10-15 minutes to complete.
What happens after treatment?
Your aesthetics specialist personalizes a melasma treatment plan just for you, and might recommend a series of treatments so you achieve the best possible results.
There’s no pain or downtime associated with melasma treatment, but you may experience mild redness or swelling for several hours after the procedure. After PicoSure treatment, you can apply moisturizers and make-up right away. Protect your skin from the sun using sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 30 or higher or wear protective hats and clothing.
Don’t let melasma cause premature skin aging or ruin your self-confidence when noninvasive solutions are at your fingertips. Call Gorgeous D’Luxe Aesthetics to learn more about melasma treatments or schedule an appointment online today.
