Melasma is a form of hyperpigmentation that darkens areas of skin on the face or other body parts. Because melasma tends to affect exposed skin, it is visible and may cause some patients to feel self-conscious in social situations. At Hillcrest Plastic Surgery, Dr. Kenrick Spence can help patients with melasma understand treatment options to restore the skin.
What Can Worsen Melasma?
The good news about melasma is that it can sometimes go away on its own. That said, it can also worsen under some conditions.
Sun Exposure
UV exposure and heat from sunlight can make melasma worse, so it is best to avoid prolonged exposure if you have melasma. Wearing hats with wide brims, covering any exposed skin when the sun is especially bright and reapplying your sunscreen about every hour to protect your skin. While general sunlight can make melasma worse, studies show that professional yellow and red light therapy makes melasma better.
Hormonal Changes
Fluctuating hormones can trigger and encourage melasma. If you become pregnant, you may be particularly at risk of melasma because hormonal shifts increase the creation of melanin, which can cause skin to take on a darker pigmentation. You could also experience melasma if you take birth control pills or undergo hormone therapy.
Skin Care Products
Using high-quality skincare products makes sense. That said, some skin care products can cause melasma flare-ups due to harsh or irritating ingredients, such as strong exfoliants, a high alcohol content, certain preservatives or heavy scents.
Certain Medications
Drugs like anticonvulsants can make melasma worse. Watch for skin changes whenever you get on a new medication. At the first sign of potentially returning melasma or other skin symptoms, make an appointment with both your dermatologist and the provider who prescribed the medication.
Skin Injuries
Any injuries to the skin, such as abrasions, infections and burns, can cause excess melanin in a condition called post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH). While this is a different condition from melasma, it may make an individual’s melasma appear more prominent. Some accidental injuries can worsen pigmentation, but controlled, professional exfoliation or microinjuries through chemical peels or microneedling make melasma better.
Normal Aging
Melasma doesn’t get worse with age, but it can worsen due to continued exposure to other factors, like ongoing skin damage or normal hormone changes that happen as you age. Additionally, aging can change the skin’s appearance, which may make melasma appear more severe over time, even if it hasn’t worsened.
Dietary Practices
Food and drink don’t directly make melasma worse. However, some foods can create problems in your body, like inflammation or hormone imbalances. Since inflammation and hormonal issues can make melasma worse, eating foods that cause these problems, like dairy, sugary or processed foods, might indirectly worsen your melasma over time. What you don’t eat may also influence melasma. For example, a diet deficient in antioxidants could put you at increased risk of melasma.
Irritating Agents
Everyone who has melasma is unique, right down to the way their skin reacts when exposed to irritants like cosmetics, detergents and chemicals. If you have sensitive skin, you may find that some substances make your melasma flare up occasionally.
You may need to experiment to discover which irritating agent is making your melasma worse. For instance, think about the facial wash you use, the moisturizer you put on your body or your shampoo (which can get in your face). A process of simple elimination can often reveal which irritant is to blame.
Is Melasma a Type of Skin Cancer?
For many people, seeing areas of their skin turn darker (usually brown or gray) can be alarming. However, melasma is not a type of skin cancer. Areas of dark skin caused by melasma tend to be very flat and untextured. Sometimes, they may look more like “sun spots” or freckles.
Skin cancer usually has a different appearance. For example, melanoma, the most dangerous type of skin cancer, is often characterized by an asymmetric appearance, irregular borders, variations in color and sizes larger than 1/4-inch across. Cancerous spots also tend to change size, shape and color more rapidly. Other skin cancers have distinguishing characteristics, such as raised surfaces or open sores.
If you’ve been diagnosed with melasma and want to seek treatment options to feel more confident in your skin, schedule a time to meet with a board-certified plastic surgeon, like Dr. Spence.
Learn More About Melasma With Hillcrest Plastic Surgery
Melasma is not a life-threatening skin condition, but it can be a frustrating experience. A trusted and compassionate board-certified plastic surgeon can begin treating your melasma to rejuvenate your skin.
Book a consultation with Dr. Kenrick Spence to determine the right treatment options to improve the look of melasma or another dermatological condition. Contact our office at 407-999-2585 to make your appointment with our team.
