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What Is The Treatment For Melasma?
I am battling what has been diagnosed as Melasma, at this point nothing that I've used prescription or otc has worked, any suggestion? My dermatologist believes it's either related to my BP medication or hormone medication which I've decreased tremendously. What information can you provide?
Fri, 6 Jun 2014
Hello and welcome to healthcaremagic
Melasma presents as brownish patches of discoloration on face, specially on cheeks, nose, and sometimes also on the upper lip, forehead etc.
Hormonal pills and pain killers are well known causes of melasma. Pregnancy is commonly associated with melasma. However most of the cases are Idiopathic
I would suggest you to use a broad spectrum sunscreen throughout the day. A sunscreen with minimum 30 SPF would be adequate.
A good and effective sunscreen should have broad spectrum UV A coverage in addition to UV B coverage, and it needs to be applied in sufficient quantity every 2-3 hourly.
It should be applied in the following quantity to have the desired protection: --3ml for face and neck(a little more than 1/2 teaspoon)
A sunscreen marketed by johnsons & johnsons, 'NEUTROGENA DRY TOUCH ULTRASHEER SUNSCREEN' is a good choice and is available OTC.
A cream containing one or more of the skin lightening agents e.g kojic acid, hydroquinone, glycolic acid, undecylenoyl phenylalanine, arbutin etc can be used once daily at night, to gradually fade away the dark parches.
Regards
Melasma presents as brownish patches of discoloration on face, specially on cheeks, nose, and sometimes also on the upper lip, forehead etc.
Hormonal pills and pain killers are well known causes of melasma. Pregnancy is commonly associated with melasma. However most of the cases are Idiopathic
I would suggest you to use a broad spectrum sunscreen throughout the day. A sunscreen with minimum 30 SPF would be adequate.
A good and effective sunscreen should have broad spectrum UV A coverage in addition to UV B coverage, and it needs to be applied in sufficient quantity every 2-3 hourly.
It should be applied in the following quantity to have the desired protection: --3ml for face and neck(a little more than 1/2 teaspoon)
A sunscreen marketed by johnsons & johnsons, 'NEUTROGENA DRY TOUCH ULTRASHEER SUNSCREEN' is a good choice and is available OTC.
A cream containing one or more of the skin lightening agents e.g kojic acid, hydroquinone, glycolic acid, undecylenoyl phenylalanine, arbutin etc can be used once daily at night, to gradually fade away the dark parches.
Regards
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