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Fighting Melasma Article Series, Two of Three

Age spots, hyper-pigmentation, chloasma, and the mask of pregnancy are some of the many names that melasma goes by. Types of treatment for this not contagious or dangerous condition range from a detox to laser treatments to topical products. Most of these treatments will improve your skin’s fitness, but don’t eliminate melasma altogether.

The following products and treatments are two steps to include in your melasma skin care regimen.

Obtaining skin treatments to improve your melasma

An esthetician at a skin spa is able to provide three skin treatments to minimize the appearance of melasma and improve the overall look of your skin. All skin treatments including chemical peels, pulse light therapy, and laser treatments should be done in a series since complete cell renewal takes about six weeks.

Chemical Peel

A chemical peel is composed of glycolic, retin-A, alphahydroxy, trichloroacetic, and phenol acids, and will exfoliate the superficial layers of the skin and encourage healthy, new cell growth. Your skin will absorb skin brightening products better with an aggressive exfoliation like this, another benefit.

Pulse light therapy

Using a special wavelength of light to penetrate the skin, the heat from pulse light therapy encourages blood vessels to disappear.

Laser treatments

Laser treatments are able to reach lower layers of your skin making it successful. New cell growth and collagen production are encouraged by the laser providing brighter and firmer skin.

Use products that will make melasma disappear

There are dozens of products that advertise amazing removal of dark spots. You should not expect these products that exfoliate skin, bleach skin, and brighten skin to work miracles, although they may lighten your melasma. Four product types should be in your melasma skin care plan.

One way for the skin to reduce the amount of melanin produced, topical brighteners and bleaches containing alpha and beta hydroxyl acids should be absorbed. Some products like Murad Age Spot & Pigment Lightening Gel contain hydroquinone, which has proven to be particularly beneficial in correcting discoloration; more than any other ingredients.

Another step is a gentle exfoliating scrub like Bliss Pore Perfecting Facial Polish. This is important because it removes dead skin cells on the surface leaving healthier cells. Using a scrub two to three times a week, like a chemical peel, encourages new cell growth and allows brighteners and bleaches to be absorbed more efficiently.

Choose moisturizers that include vitamin B3 and/or botanicals like Celazome Botanical Daily Moisturizer w/SPF 15 because these elements calm redness and help neutralize the skin’s color. Many products also contain vitamins C and E, which are antioxidants and will aid in fighting off free radicals in the environment.

Last but definitely not least is a sun block. Apply sun block to your face, ears, hands, and chest (if exposed) every day. This is particularly important if you are using a bleaching agent. When using a bleaching agent your skin cells have lost some or all of their pigment. The sun’s UVA and UVB rays will worsen your melasma.

In fighting melasma, treatments and products are just two factors. In the first and third articles of the Fighting Melasma series, more melasma removal information is discussed.