MANAGING MELASMA

If you have Melasma, also known as the “pregnancy mask,” you understand the difficulty of managing and eliminating this chronic skin condition. Melsama appears as dark, irregular skin discolorations, usually on the upper cheek, nose, lip, upper lip or forehead. You don’t have to be pregnant to get Melasma, but hormones do play a role. Once you have Melasma, it not only flares from the sun, but also from heat. It can be a reoccurring condition for years to come.

At VITAHL, we tackle Melasma with several combined treatments, including topical creams and peels. For some patients, we also use lasers to treat Melasma. Unfortunately, there are no treatments that can cure Melasma, so our goal is to control it as best we can. For some, being on a home care regime with iS Clinical White Lightening or a prescription combination of Hydroquinone and Retin-A will suffice, but for many patients, we need to get more aggressive. At this point, we recommend the Melanage peel, Jessner peels or lasers. Of these, our treatment of choice is Melange, because it can be used on all skin types. Melanage is a revolutionary, non-invasive treatment that has been proven to improve Melasma and sun damage while improving skin texture. The treatment begins in the office, and is supplemented by comprehensive home care products that amplify and extend the peel benefits. We are currently in the process of evaluating new treatments for Melasma. As we continue to see results, we will pass on the information.

If you have or think you may have Melasma, the first step is to call for a complimentary consultation. With perseverance and patience, your Melasma can be improved. Just remember that the most critical step in managing your Melasma is to strictly avoid sunlight and heat, because sun and heat only make this skin condition worsen. If you’re going outside, wear your hat and put on your sunscreen!