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Suggest Treatment For Melasma

Posted on Tue, 29 Dec 2015

Question: Hello Doctor!!

Im a male of 34 years of age & suffering from Melasma for past three four months and it is on both the cheeks and partly on nose as well like a butterfly shape.Im taking treatment with organic peels like glycolic etc and applying skin cream with Hydroquinone,tretrnoin & momestone.but there is no improvement and really worried what I should do to remove this melasma on my face.

Please help sir...

Answered by Dr. Asmeet Kaur Sawhney (16 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Answer the questions

Detailed Answer:
Hi
Thanks for being at healthcaremagic
I can understand your concern.
I need to ask you few questions:
Are you having hypothyroidism?
Are you taking anyother medicines as few drugs are associated with melasma?
Is there family history of melasma?
Is there history of excessive sunexposure?
How many sessions of peels have you taken?
Which sunscreen are you using and how many times in a day?
For how long have you applied cream containing hydroquinone, tretinoin and mometasone?
Kindly revert back with the answers.
Regards
Dr Asmeet

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Asmeet Kaur Sawhney (41 minutes later)

No hypothyroidism
no medicines used till date for anything
yes some times but not frequent
only 01 session
sunban gel 50 spf - only once in a day
night cream for past few weeks only

Answered by Dr. Asmeet Kaur Sawhney (31 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Continue with night cream, apply sunscreen every 3-4 hours

Detailed Answer:
First of all apply the sunscreen during the day time at intervals of every 3-4 hours.
Avoid sunexposure and make use of umbrella, sunglasses and cap whenever out in the sun.
You can continue with the cream you are applying at night as it is slow to show its effect and needs to be continued for atleast 6-8 weeks.
One session of chemical peel won't have any effect on melasma. Atleast 6-8 seeions of peeling are required to have any significant benefit.
Apart from this I also recommend my patients to take tablet tranexamic acid 250 mg twice daily.This will further help in resolving melasma.
I hope to have answered your queries.
I would be happy to clarify any further doubts.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D

Follow up: Dr. Asmeet Kaur Sawhney (17 hours later)

Hello Doctor!!

Thanks for your prompt response
Im taking 3 more peels and 2 sessions of microdermbrasion

Please suggest good sunscreen non oily based
I checked in the internet it says - for melasma, chemical sunscreen will further worse melasma and need to apply only physical sunscreen with zinc oxide & titanium dioxide.how far it is true??? if yes pls suggest me good sunscreen accordingly

pls advcie shall i take tranexamic acid 250 mg twice daily? or shall i use b complex & MSM??

can I use any foundation powder to cover the oilyness of sunscreen?

Please help..

Answered by Dr. Asmeet Kaur Sawhney (25 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Use la shield sunscreen gel, can use foundation powder

Detailed Answer:
For oily skin you can use la shield sunscreen gel. It will suit your skin.
You don't have to go for physical sunscreen as chemical sunscreen is equally effective in melasma.
Yes you can use foundation powder to cover the oiliness of the sunscreen but I think with la shield sunscreen gel it won't be required.
Yes you can take tranexamic acid 250 mg twice daily, after obtaining a prescription from your local doctor. It will give good response as compared to b complex.

Note: Hope the answers resolves your concerns, however for further guidance of skin related queries consult our Dermatologist.Click here to book a consultation

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Sonia Raina