Melasma

Melasma is a skin condition where the skin discolors to black or tan. This skin conditions affects various body parts. It mostly affects the lips, forehead, cheeks and the nose. It is not cancerous and therefore causes no health hazard. Melasma is also referred to as chloasma or pregnancy mask and it appears on the skin as dark patches. The patches are also irregular in shape. This skin condition is more common in women who are pregnant or are on oral contraceptives. People who have taken anti-malarial drugs are also susceptible to chloasma. However, melasma affects just anyone. People with light skins and living in places that have intense sunlight are very susceptible to this skin condition too.

There are many causes of chloasma. Melasma can be caused by excessive exposure to the sun. The suns UV light works by damaging the skin and over stimulating melanocytes, which are the cells that produce melanin in the skin. People suffering from thyroid disease are also at a high risk of developing melasma.

Melasma is also said to be genetic. This means that it is carried in the genes and therefore, a parent can pass this skin condition to the child. Physicians use the family history to see whether a person is likely to get this skin condition. If melasma is very prevalent in your family, you are twice exposed to it than someone who has few occurrences.

Melasma has very many treatment options. It can be treated both at home or you can have a dermatologist perform some of the treatments. Laser rejuvenation is used to treat melasma. Lasers are very effective and are popular as they are fast in the job. You should note that this treatment is costly. Chemicals peels are also used to treat this skin condition. The peels are different. One of them is peels made of glycolic acids. They effectively work on the skin. Lemon juice is used to treat chloasma. Its acidic nature burns the lesions and the skin fall off with time. Onion juice mixed with apple cider vinegar is used to treat this skin condition.

Finally, as you have seen, melasma is hereditary. People that have a family history of melasma have a high chance of getting it as it can be passed from generation to generation. In such a case, it isn’t possible to prevent the condition. You shouldn’t worry should you get this skin condition as it’s total harmless and there are treatments for it.

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