Dark Spots, Hyperpigmentation, Melasma
Melasma is a disorder of skin pigmentation. The pigment cells melanocytes synthesize melanin equally over the skin. Pigment spots typically occur later in life and look like light-gray to dark-brown patches. They appear primarily on sun-exposed areas, such as faces and arms.
We don’t know the factors and reasons behind the emergence of melasma. We attribute it to sunlight and genetic predisposition.
The main risk factor for hyperpigmentation is exposure to natural or artificial UV radiation and hormonal factors, which are crucial in the appearance of melasma. Hormonal disturbances or the intake of oral contraceptives and pregnancy are aggravating factors.
Some cosmetic substances, such as oxidized linoleic acid, salicylate, citral, and preservatives, can be triggering factors for melasma. Medications described as phototoxic or photosensitive, such as anticonvulsants, have been associated with melasma too.
Aesthetic medicine can significantly diminish all areas of hyperpigmentation, but it is impossible to remove them entirely, especially melasma. The battle with dark spots results in how deeply it has localized. To understand the depth, we use Wood’s lamp. Using Wood’s light, we can see the superficial hyperpigmentation, called epidermal melasma, but not melasma that has spread deeper into the skin.
For the last four years, MedVSpa has seen the best results with Cosmelan for dark skin type and Microneedling RF Scarlet for the representative of light skin.
