• Home
• About Us
• Location & Hours
• GENERAL DERMATOLOGY
• SKIN CANCER & TREATMENT
• Cosmetic & Laser procedures
• Skin Care Products
• Aesthetician Services
• Newsletter
• Contact Us

• Acne
• Angioma
• Contact Dermatitis
• Eczema
• Keratosis Pilaris
• Lichen Planus
• Lentigos
• Melasma
• Molluscum Contagiosum
• Pityriasis Rosea
• Rosacea
• Seborrheic Dermatitis
• Seborrheic Keratosis
• Shingles
• Urticaria (Hives)
• Warts
• Tinea Versicolor

General Dermatology

Melasma

Melasma is a skin condition presenting as brown patches on the face of adults. Both sides of the face are usually affected. The most common sites of involvement are the cheeks, bridge of nose, forehead, and upper lip. It is also referred to as the “mask of pregnancy”. It is not a harmful disease, but can severely affect a person’s cosmetic appearance.

Melasma mostly occurs in women. Only 10% of those affected are men. Dark-skinned races, particularly Hispanics, Asians, Indians, people from the Middle East, and Northern Africa, tend to have melasma more than others. The precise cause of melasma is unknown. People with a family history of melasma are more likely to develop melasma themselves. It may also develop in persons taking oral contraceptives, hormone replacement therapy, or excessive sun exposure .
 

Treatment

While there is no cure for melasma, Dr. Green and Dr. Chaplik use many treatments with great success.

Sunblocks are essential in the treatment of melasma. They should be broad spectrum, protecting against both UVA and UVB rays from the sun. A SPF 30 or higher should be selected. In addition, physical sunblock lotions and creams such as zinc oxide and titanium oxide, may be used to block ultraviolet radiation and visible light (ie. Minusol, Skinceuticals, Z-Silk, etc.). Sunblocks should be worn daily, whether or not it is sunny outside, or if you are outdoors or indoors. A significant amount of ultraviolet rays is received while walking down the street, driving in cars, and sitting next to windows. That is why Dr. Green and Dr. Chaplik will recommend some form of sunblock to protect your melasma from worsening or even returning.

Melasma may slowly fade after delivery, or it may remain for many years, or even a lifetime. Similarly if melasma develops after starting birth control pills, it may improve after discontinuing them. Darkening will most likely reoccur with subsequent pregnancies or reintroduction of oral contraceptives.

Both Dr. Green and Dr. Chaplik treat melasma with bleaching creams that they formulate (this can be done while continuing the birth control pills). The doctors also like to mix their bleaching cream with glycolic acid and a retinol to maximize the effects. The topical depigmenting process is slow and therefore Dr. Green and Dr. Chaplik also offer quicker techniques to help reduce the melasma, such as chemical peels, microdermabrasion, and even laser treatments.