Melasma (aka; chloasma, mask of pregnancy) is an acquired disorder that isn't harmful, but can dramatically affect cosmetic appearance. Patches of darkened skin appears most often as a result of hormonal changes.

Pregnancy, for example, can trigger overproduction of melanin that causes the "mask of pregnancy" on the face and darkened skin on the abdomen or other areas. Women who take birth control pills may also develop hyperpigmentation because their bodies undergo similar kind of hormonal changes that occur during pregnancy. If one is really bothered by the pigment, the birth control pills should be stopped.

The excessive pigment associated with melasma can be difficult to treat if located deep within the skin. The pigment may be located superficially in the epidermis (epidermal melasma), deeply in the dermis (dermal melasma), or a combination of both.

Treatment

• Discontinuation of exogenous hormones (birth control pills)
• Use of broad spectrum sunscreens and avoidance of unnecessary sun exposure
• Topical medications such as Hydroquinone, Arbutin and Kojic Acid
• BBL
• Chemical Peels designed to break up the excessive melanin (pigment)

Common Questions About Treating Hyperpigmentation

Will the condition return?

To help avoid the development and reoccurrence of melasma, minimize your sun exposure. If you must be in the sun, use a sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 30.It should be a broad-spectrum sunscreen, which means it blocks both ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) rays. Apply sunscreen liberally 30 minutes before sun exposure. Sunscreensshould be applied every 2 hours when exposed to sun regardless of the SPF number.