Saturday, July 30, 2011

Learning More On Melasma Treatment

By Stephan D'Alane


An unsightly condition of the skin, Melasma is a skin condition that affects mostly women in their child baring years. It usually affects the facial area however it can occur on any part of the body. There are different types so knowing which Melasma treatment is best will depend on how severe and which type of the condition you have.

The facial region is usually the area generally affected with this skin condition. It is characterized by patches of discoloration ranging in color from brown, tan and blue-gray. It has not yet been determined what the exact cause of this condition is but the medical community tends to believe it arises from exposure to the sun or hormones from medication or pregnancy.

Men are not as susceptible to this skin condition as a woman; which explains why ninety percent of all cases are affecting women. Approximately six-million women suffer from this skin condition, which is usually found on the upper lip, forehead, cheeks or jaw. Make no mistake; this condition can affect other parts of the body as well.

This skin condition like so many other conditions has different forms or types. There is the form known as epidermal which is distinguished by excess melanin in the top layers of the skin; the form known as dermal which is distinguished by melanophages in the dermis; the third and most common form is known as mixed which is distinguished by a combination of both epidermal and dermal and the final form is unnamed and is distinguished by melanocytes, which is more common in dark skinned individuals. Each form has specific distinguishing attributes and characteristics.

The main way in which to diagnose this skin condition is through a visual inspection; however the form cannot be determined using this method. In order to determine the form or type a special light called either a black or Wood light can be utilized. If this method is unsuccessful a skin biopsy can be taken and used to determine the type; this however is done only in rare instances.

Treatment can be done in several ways but the most common is by the use of a hydroquinone cream. If the cream is prescribed it usually has greater than a two percent concentration of HQ; it can be purchased over the counter but the concentration of HQ will be two percent or less. Sunscreen can also be used in treating the condition along with avoiding prolonged sun exposure. There are times when the skin condition will clear up without treatment.

There are treatments such as chemical peels, laser therapy and microdermabrasion; however these methods are not as effective as the creams. It is possible the condition will clear without any creams or procedures but in most cases something has to be used. There is no need to worry because there is a Melasma treatment available to aid in clearing up this skin condition. Just seek a professional dermatologist and they can guide you to the most appropriate method in clearing this skin condition up.




About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment

Check this link for other related articles:

My Random Articles

Yey Health