Its important to seek competent providers, communicate, and advocate for yourself as you seek care.
The key to living with and managing it is to separate the facts from the fiction about this condition.
However, this disorder can also arise in those with lighter skin.
Zoe Hansen / Verywell
These cells are primarily found in the basal layer of theepidermis, or outer layer of skin.
Julie Bang / Verywell
People may confuse melanocytes with what they produce and store: melanin.
Melasma Can Fade
In many cases, melasma can fade on its own, without treatment.
Julie Bang / Verywell
In cooler times of the year, the melasma will be less prominent.
Reproduced with permission from DermNet New Zealandwww.dermnetnz.org2023.
Risk Factors
Researchers have identified several risk factors for developing melasma.
Reproduced with permission from © DermNet New Zealandwww.dermnetnz.org2023.
In addition, since melasma affects your appearance, it can impact your confidence and sense of self-esteem.
Its worth exploring your options in these cases, too.
This will mean mixing and matching strategies to find what works for you.
These include:
Lastly, other medical treatments may help, especially when paired with medications.
These include:
Does Dark Skin Prolong Melasma Treatment?
Those with darker skin are more likely to develop melasma.
In addition, melasma is more challenging to treat in darker skin types.
Highly pigmented skin types often require stronger topical therapies and may take a longer time to get results.
Melasma is a chronic condition, but there are treatments available.
Its important to be able to advocate for yourself and seek the treatment you need.
By being proactive, youll set yourself on the road to recovery from melasma.
For others, however, the condition can be difficult and chronic, requiring treatment.
While chemical peels for melasma can be very effective, this procedure comes with a few risks.
Inflammation and pain can occur in treated areas, with permanent scarring occurring in some cases.
Notably, some types of melasma arent treatable this wayand other treatments should be attempted first.
Ogbechie-Godec O, Elbuluk N.Melasma: An up-to-date comprehensive review.Dermatol Ther (Heidelb).
2013;1:30-41. doi:10.5114/pdia.2013.33376
American Academy of Dermatology Association.Melasma: diagnosis and treatment.
Skin of Color Society.
Handel A, Miot L, Miot H.Melasma: A clinical and epidemiological review.An Bras Dermatol.
2014;171(3):588-594. doi:10.1111/bjd.13059
