Melasma & Pigmentation Treatment
Melasma can fade on its own. This usually happens when a trigger, such as a pregnancy or birth control pills, causes the Melasma. When a woman delivers her baby or stops taking the birth control pills, Melasma can fade.
However, some people have Melasma for years, or even a lifetime. If the Melasma does not go away or a woman wants to keep taking birth control pills, Melasma treatments are available.
These include:
- Hydroquinone: This medication is a common first treatment for Melasma. It is applied to the skin and works to even out your skin tone. Hydroquinone is no longer available without a prescription. If hydroquinone is a good fit for you, your dermatologist can prescribe it.
- Tretinoin and corticosteroids: To enhance skin lightening, your dermatologist may prescribe a second medicine. This medicine may be Tretinoin or a corticosteroid. Sometimes a medicine contains three medicines (hydroquinone, Tretinoin, and a corticosteroid) in one cream. This is often called a triple cream.
- Other topicals that your dermatologist may prescribe depending upon your skin type are azelaic acid or kojic acid to help reduce Melasma.
- Procedures:
If the medicine you apply to your skin does not get rid of your Melasma, a procedure may succeed.
Procedures for Melasma include a chemical peel, microdermabrasion, dermabrasion, laser treatment, or a light-based procedure.
New skin problems can occur when the person who gives the treatment does not tailor it to the patient’s skin type.
If you notice any of the following after getting treatment for Melasma, be sure to call your dermatologist:
- Skin irritation
- Darkening of the skin
- Other problems
Outcome
Under a dermatologist’s care, many people with Melasma have a good outcome. Melasma can be stubborn, though. It may take a few months of treatment to see improvement. It is important to follow your dermatologist’s advice. This ensures that you get the most benefit from treatment. It also can help avoid skin irritation and other side effects.
After your Melasma clears, you may need to keep treating your skin. Your dermatologist may call this maintenance therapy. Maintenance therapy can prevent Melasma from returning.
You can help prevent your Melasma from returning by wearing sunscreen and a wide-brimmed hat every day.