Pregnancy mask and melasma: How to treat it

When exposed to the sun, brown spots may appear on the forehead, chin, bridge of the nose and cheeks. The spots take the shape of a mask, hence the term 'pregnancy mask' or 'chloasma.'

But sometimes this occurs even if the person isn't pregnant. Specialists use the term 'melasma' for men and women that grow these brown spots on the epidermis of the face.

There are a number of different types of melasma:

• Epidermal melasma: it primarily impacts the upper part of the skin. The blemishes are brown in color.
• Dermal melasma: affects the dermis, that is, the deepest part of the skin. The spots are more bluish.
• Mixed melasma: more difficult to handle, affecting both the dermis and the epidermis of the skin. The spots are brown and grey.

Melasma also occurs in people with dark skin, often exposed to the sun. Usually, these brown spots are unflattering. The skin on the face is brown, sometimes puffy, and the pores on the face are even more marked

Pregnancy mask and melasma: causes

Melasma is a type of hyperpigmentation. This way, the skin creates a very large amount of skin pigment called melanin.

The first cause of the emergence of melasma is over-exposure to the sun. UV rays activate melanocytes and generate a high dose of melanin. The genetic capital of each person's skin also plays a key role in the creation of these brown spots. Dark and olive skin tones are very susceptible to melasma.

The second explanation for the presence of chloasma is hormonal. When a woman is pregnant, hormonal fluctuations make the skin more photosensitive, which increases the formation of pigment on the epidermis. Changes in contraceptives may also be at the root of this disorder.

Apart from being an esthetic nuisance, the pregnancy mask or melasma remains a benign condition.

Pregnancy mask and melasma:

Nowadays there are aesthetic medicine treatments to remove melasma and pregnancy masks.

It is possible for patients with melasma to use skin peels. It consists of removing the first layer of the epidermis. All skin cells, including pigments, disappear by removing the superficial portion. Afterwards, once again, the patient has a smooth and even skin.

It is possible to use laser or pulsed light to treat melasma. This process consists of burning the pigment of the skin. When in contact with the light beam, the pigment burns and is removed. A few days after surgery, the patient will see a reduction in brown spots.

These procedures are often done under the supervision of a dermatologist.