SpaDerma’s and our Aestheticians’ DMs get flooded with these questions a lot...How can you treat melasma? How do you prevent melasma? What is melasma? So, we decided to compile all our knowledge and information into one helpful place, here! Melasma is a common pigmentation disorder that can be caused by hormonal changes or sun exposure that results in brown or gray patches most often occurring on the cheeks, forehead, nose and chin. It’s triggered by hormones, prolonged sun exposure, and diet, including thyroid function, and gut inflammation that can all cause hormonal imbalances.
As Lincoln Park Aesthetican and Laser + Light Specialist, Carla Minnesma says, “I see this [melasma] on the daily! I tell patients once you have it, you're stuck with it. There is not one cure fix all solution unfortunately (I speak from experience)! There are skincare treatments and products that can help lighten it and suppress it from getting worse, though. The number one thing I tell my patients they need to be doing like it’s their job is applying sunscreen constantly and wearing a hat for long periods at a time if they are outside.”
We recommend coming in for a complimentary consultation with one of our specialists if you are wondering more about ways to treat and protect your skin.
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Melasma, Recommended Treatments:
Chemical Peel
+ This customized treatment helps lighten and brighten the skin.
Clear and Brilliant
+ Laser resurfacing is great to help facilitate an even tone throughout the face.
Hydrafacial
+ Great for when a chemical peel isn't appropriate, events coming up, and for patients who can't peel as there is very limited-to-no down time.
Microneedling
+ A great option to mix in with Clear & Brilliant. It helps keep the melasma treated at different depths to constantly pull it up and out.
Melasma, Recommended Skincare:
SkinBetter Science
+ AlphaRet Overnight Cream: A unique combination of an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) and a retinoid that provides visible skin rejuvenation with little-to-no irritation.
+ Alto Defense Serum: Combines Vitamin C and E + 17 additional antioxidant ingredients designed to provide a new level of comprehensive and dynamic defense against free radicals.
+ Even Tone Correcting Serum: It is a non-hydroquinone, non-retinol, multi-action skin tone corrector that delivers a dramatic reduction in the appearance of hyperpigmentation.
PCASkin
+ Pigment Gel: Infused with hydroquinone is a depigmenting agent used to lighten areas of darkened skin.
SkinCeuticals
+ Phloretin CF: A patented, daytime vitamin C antioxidant face serum that delivers advanced environmental protection and diminishes the appearance of fine lines and discoloration.
+ CE Ferulic: A vitamin C serum that provides environmental protection, lightens lines, firms skin, and brightens your complexion.
+ Discoloration Defense:
Ashley says, “Hands down the best thing for melasma. Absolutely love it.”
Ashley Powers, Director of Education also explains, “Having an antioxidant, SPF, retinoid, and a pigment inhibitor in their regimen made significant improvements in my melasma patients skin. Plus, SPF always! Of course wear a hat. The important thing with melasma too is that it isn’t just sun induced or hormonally induced, the heat from weather or workouts like hot yoga can actually make the pigment worse and harder for us to treat.”
The most important advice we could give anyone dealing with melasma is to get in touch with one of our providers to find a customized plan to help maintain melasma or discoloration and find the best medical-grade products for your unique and beautiful skin.
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