While you might not have heard of the term melasma, it is likely that you or someone you know is dealing with it. Melasma is a very common skin condition in Baton Rouge and Lafayette, as well as around the world. It causes patches of your skin to become discolored and to become darker than the rest of your skin.
This is a condition that happens with relative frequency among pregnant women. When this condition occurs among pregnant women, it is called the mask of pregnancy. This condition is a lot more common in women, but it can happen in men as well. The American Academy of Dermatology estimates that approximately 90 percent of individuals who develop melasma are women.
The symptoms of melasma are pretty straightforward. You know that you might have it if you have patches of skin that are a lot darker than the rest of your skin. This is a disease that often affects the skin on your face. It is a disease that is going to affect your body in a symmetrical way. This means that if you have marks on the left side of your face, you will have almost identical marks on the right side of your face.
In addition to affecting your face, parts of your body that receive a lot of sun exposure, such as your arms or your hands, can also be affected by the disease. It is most common to see the discoloration on a person’s cheeks, on their chin, on their forehead or on the bridge of their nose.
The discoloration will not cause you any discomfort. It doesn’t itch, and it doesn’t cause you any other form of physical trauma. However, most people who are dealing with melasma do feel self-conscious about the way they look, especially if the disease has presented itself on their face.
For some women, melasma is a disease that appears for a short while and then clears up on its own. If the condition does not clear up on its own, we have treatment options available that aim to minimize the appearance of the condition. A chemical peel, for example, will remove the damaged layers of skin and unveil healthier skin that you have underneath.
It is important to understand that there is no one-size-fits-all treatment for melasma. If you suspect that you have melasma, schedule a consultation at The Aesthetic Medicine and Anti-Aging Clinics of Louisiana in Baton Rouge or Lafayette to learn about your treatment options. Contact us today to book an appointment!