melasma

Rid my Chloasma

Posted by Great Skin Day × February 21, 2012 at 9:19 am

Rid my Chloasma – how to remove Chloasma

Have you asked to rid my Chloasma? The skin condition which is dark pigmentation spots or patches of the skin typically on the face and cheeks. The term Chloasma is another name to the more common term melasma.

chloasma or melasma?

Melasma and chloasma are one and the same, as they are the same skin condition for arguments sake the medical term is often used together or in replacement of each other, another typical name that may be used is the “the mask of pregnancy”

A common variation or spelling is cloasma and it can be found in variation to the common spelling.

If we were to take the argument a little further we can go to the words origin.

Chloasma is a likened word occasionally used to define the phenomenon of melasma in pregnancy . Chloasma is comes from the Ancient greek expression chloazein , which means “to be green .” Melas , likewise Classical Greek , denotes “black .” Due to the fact the pigmentation can never be green in character , melasma is the favored term .

Chloasma. Blothcy patches of darker color often appear on the cheeks. The woman on the right developed the brown patches while pregnant.

Chloasma pictures courtesy of AAD see references

What are the Causes of chloasma?

Often Chloasma is linked the female’s sex body chemicals or hormones estrogen together with progesterone. It is believed that during certain hormone changes the body is stimulated to produce pigment producing cells or melanocytes. The sex hormones support in the over production of melanin where melanin is the primary determinant of skin color. This overproduction occurs when the skin is subjected to sunlight.

Women are commonly susceptible to the skin condition.

Genetics plays a big role in the predisposition of those likely to experience the skin condition.

chloasma during pregnancy is more common for those experiencing the symptoms of Chloasma as the term commonly used “the mask of pregnancy” would imply
Women on Birth control – taking oral or patch contraceptives
Women on hormone replacement therapy (HRT)
Females with a mild brown colored skin variety that live in locations with intensive sunlight exposure

The likelihood of melasma will increase in sufferers with thyroid illness . It happens to be believed that the overproduction of melanocyte-stimulating hormone ( MSH ) attributable to stress symptoms could cause out-breaks of your affliction. Additional infrequently found reasons behind melasma include things like allergic response to medicines and even cosmetic products.

Chloasma in Men

Although not common as in women, men can have the skin condition and it may be found in approx 10% of Chloasma cases. The cause is not know for certain and genetics and skin condition and exposure to sun is often believed to be the main cause.

The main chloasma causes are a directly linked to the skins exposure to sun without proper skin protection from a broad spectrum sunscreen or suitable protection from clothing or hats. Hormones play a big role also.

How to rid my Chloasma. The treatment options

There are a number of treatments for chloasma the first being a preventative treatment and that is avoiding the sun exposure that stimulates the pigmentation. The root cause of chloasma is the sun exposure so the most appropriate way to overcome the condition is to apply a strict regime. This strict regime is to apply sunscreen daily and reapply if susceptible to perspiration.

The first step is to reduce your risk for developing chloasma and to ensure you have every chance to rid my chloasma is by applying sunscreen every day, all year long. The American Academy of Dermotoloy recommends selecting a sunscreen that protects from both UVA and UVB rays and has a sun protection factor(SPF) of 30 or more.

Treat chloasma with utmost respect to your skins health. It is important to look your best and we all want to experience a great skin day.

Whilst we have heavily pushed the point of wearing suitable SPF protection on a daily basis whilst exposed to the sun, you can treat the visible signs of chloasma using specific products that contain bleaching active agents.

To speed up the fading of the dark spots and patches, the bleaching or lightening of the skins darkened pigmentation or hyperpigmentation can be administered by the use of a chloasma treatment cream or topical application of serums.

Rid my Chloasma using these product or solutions

The most common products to help with depigmentation and help lighten and fade chloasma include:

hydroquinone containing creams our preferred “chloasma cream”, gels and serum over the counter or available online with an active concentration of (2%) also available on prescription from your physician with a stronger 4% strength. The active ingredient hydroquinone is a product that helps inhibit the enzyme involved in the production of melanin
Tretinoin an acid that helps with an increase in skin cell turnover rates This treatment is not suitable for pregnant women.
Azelaic acid beleived to help in the reduction of melanocytes activity.
Chemical Peels
Microdermabrasion for lighter exfoliation on the surface layer of the skin
Dermabrasion which is more appropriate on the underlying surfaces of the skin and should be performed by a dermatologist
Galvanic or ultrasound facials with a combination of a topical crème/gel. Either in an æsthetician’s office or as a home massager unit.
Laser treatment
Skin whitening solutions such as the Alpha Light Skin System

All of these treatments should be used in conjunction with a strict regime of sun avoidance. The use of broad-spectrum sunscreens that disperse the threat of UV-A, UV-B and visible lights. They are all capable of stimulating production which is the cause of Chloasma.

Cosmetic cover-ups can also be used to reduce the appearance and rid my Chloasma.