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WHAT ARE MElasma and freckles?
Melasma is a common problem in women, especially during reproductive age and after giving birth. This is a skin pigmentation disorder, manifested by dark skin patches, often appearing on the face, neck, arms,... Melasma not only causes aesthetic discomfort but also affects the confidence of people with melasma. Therefore, understanding the causes of melasma formation and how to recognize types of melasma will help us have effective treatment and prevention. In this article, we will learn about the causes of melasma, types of melasma, and how to recognize its signs.
What is Melasma?
Melasma is a skin pigmentation disorder that leads to the overproduction of melanin - a dark brown substance that helps protect the skin from the harmful effects of sunlight. When too much melanin is produced, dark spots appear on the skin, called melasma. Melasma often appears on skin areas directly exposed to sunlight such as the face, neck, arms and legs.
Melasma can cause many troubles for people with melasma such as: reducing skin elasticity, making skin dry and rough, making the skin look older than its real age. In addition, melasma also makes the face uneven, causing a feeling of inferiority and loss of confidence in communication.
Causes of melasma formation
There are many causes of melasma, including:
Impact of sunlight
UV rays in sunlight are the leading cause of skin pigmentation. When skin is exposed to sunlight, UV rays can destroy skin cells, causing them to produce too much melanin, leading to the formation of melasma patches. In particular, exposure to sunlight during peak hours (from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.) will increase the risk of melasma.
Hormone changes
Melasma can appear due to hormonal changes in the body, such as during pregnancy, postpartum, menopause, etc. During this period, the body produces too much of the hormones estrogen and progesterone, leading to increased melanin production. This makes skin areas exposed to the sun more susceptible to melasma.
Genetic
Genetics is also a risk factor for melasma. If someone in your family has melasma, you have a higher risk of having melasma. However, genetics is only an increased risk factor, not the main cause of melasma.
Some other factors
In addition to the above causes, there are a number of other factors that can increase the risk of melasma including: using birth control pills, using inappropriate cosmetics, dry, sensitive skin, poor diet. balance, stress, fatigue,...
Types of Melasma
Melasma is divided into 3 main types:
Melasma patches
This is the most common type of melasma, appearing as dark patches of skin that are uneven in size and shape. Melasma often appears on the cheeks, nose, forehead, and chin. This is also the easiest type of melasma to treat.
Deep melasma on legs
This type of melasma is located deep in the skin's dermis, has a darker color than melasma and is more difficult to treat. Deep melasma often appears on the forehead, temples, cheeks, and nose. To treat deep melasma, it is necessary to use exfoliating methods and apply specialized products.
Mixed melasma
This type of melasma combines both patchy and deep melasma. Therefore, to treat mixed melasma, it is necessary to combine treatment methods for both types of melasma above.
Signs of melasma
To accurately determine whether your skin has melasma or not, you can check yourself by applying the following steps:
- Check areas of skin exposed to direct sunlight such as the face, neck, arms and legs.
- Look closely at these skin areas, if there is a difference in color and density between skin areas, it may be a sign of melasma.
- If you are unsure, you can use a mirror for a closer inspection. If you see areas of skin with different colors, especially areas exposed to direct sunlight, it could be a sign of melasma.
If you discover that you have signs of melasma, quickly seek treatment to prevent this condition from becoming more serious.
Some methods to prevent melasma from forming
As mentioned above, the impact of sunlight is the leading cause of melasma. Therefore, to prevent and treat melasma, protecting the skin from the harmful effects of sunlight is very important.
Measures to protect skin from the sun include:
Use sunscreen
Sunscreen is an indispensable product in daily skin care, especially when you have signs of melasma. Choose a sunscreen with a high SPF and contains physical sunscreen ingredients such as zinc oxide or titanium dioxide.
Avoid exposure to sunlight during peak hours
The hours from 10am to 4pm are when the sun is very strong and harmful to the skin. Therefore, limit going out during these hours or use protective equipment such as long sleeves, hats, etc.
Use sun umbrellas
When exposed to the sun for a long time, you can use an umbrella to protect your skin. This is a simple and effective solution to prevent sun damage.
Melasma and Hormone Changes
Hormonal changes in the body are also one of the causes of melasma. Therefore, to prevent and treat melasma related to hormonal changes, you can apply the following measures:
Maintain Hormone balance
To maintain hormone balance in the body, you need to eat nutritious food and have a healthy lifestyle. Avoid eating too much sweet, fatty and fast food. Limit alcohol and tobacco consumption.
Exercise regularly
Regular exercise helps the body produce endorphins - substances that help balance hormones and reduce stress. So, spend at least 30 minutes a day doing light exercise such as walking, jogging, yoga, etc.
Use specialized products
If you are pregnant or postpartum, you can use specialized skin care products for pregnant and postpartum women. These products are often made from natural ingredients and are safe for both mother and baby.
Melasma and Genetics
Genetics is also a factor that increases the risk of melasma. If someone in your family has melasma, the possibility that you will also have melasma is very high. However, this is not something that cannot be controlled.
Carry out melasma treatment procedures at reputable skin clinics
Treatments at reputable skin clinics such as essence implant, meso, Pico Discovery laser are an effective solution to help reduce the appearance of hereditary melasma.
Melasma and Genetics
Genetics is also a factor that increases the risk of melasma. If someone in your family has melasma, the possibility that you will also have melasma is very high. However, this is not something that cannot be controlled.
Carry out melasma treatment procedures at reputable skin clinics
Treatments at reputable skin clinics such as essence implant, meso, Pico Discovery laser are an effective solution to help reduce the appearance of hereditary melasma.
Exercise regularly
Regular exercise helps the body produce endorphins - substances that help balance hormones and reduce stress. So, spend at least 30 minutes a day doing light exercise such as walking, jogging, yoga, etc.
Use specialized products
If you are pregnant or postpartum, you can use specialized skin care products for pregnant and postpartum women. These products are often made from natural ingredients and are safe for both mother and baby.
