Melasma

Melasma appears frequently in pregnant women, and it’s a common skin condition, but it’s not serious, and it doesn’t lead to severe complications.

Melasma

Melasma is a skin condition that causes dark patches to appear on the skin, most often on the face. Melasma can appear as flat patches or freckle-like spots.

Melasma occurs more in women, especially in the ages between 20 and 40; it also occurs more in pregnant women. About 15-50% of pregnant women have melasma.

Causes of melasma

Melasma occurs due to the increased production of melanin, which is the pigmentation that gives the skin its color. This happens due to several reasons, such as:

• Pregnancy: it’s thought that the increased amounts of the estrogen and progesterone hormones during pregnancy trigger the melasma.
• Sunlight: it triggers the skin to produce more melanin.
• Genetic factor.
• Some medications: such as anti-seizures drugs, contraceptives, and medications that increase the skin’s sensitivity, like retinoids and others.
• Stress.
• Hypothyroidism.
• Tanning beds.
• Some skin products, makeup, and soaps.

Symptoms of melasma

• Melasma appears as large patches or small freckle-like spots that are darker than the skin.
• Melasma mostly appears on the forehead, cheeks, top of the upper lip, chin, and nose. Sometimes it appears on the arms, neck, and back. In other words, melasma appears in places that are continuously exposed to sunlight.
• Melasma might appear on one side of the face or on both sides, and it also might be more clearly on one side than the other.
• Melasma isn’t itchy nor painful.

Diagnosis of melasma

• Skin examination.
• In some cases, a biopsy is requested.

Treatment of melasma

• Melasma might wear off on its own without treatment, and it might last for a long period of time even with treatment and might never go away.
• Use sunscreen when going under the sunlight.
• Some skin products that reduce the production of melanin.
• Some skin peeling procedures.