| > | | | | skin — Estrogen and Progesterone hormones |
| Melasma is a common condition specially in parts of | | | | are stimulated (female hormones) — Estrogen |
| the world where the sun shines stronger. It is a slow | | | | and Progesterone stimulate the melanocytes (pigment |
| progressing skin condition that appears as dark | | | | producing cells) — melanocytes produce |
| patches of skin on face and arms. It can be related to | | | | melanine. |
| hormonal changes but it is also genetically down the | | | | How can I avoid developing the condition?This is a |
| generations. What is Melasma?Melasma is a condition | | | | chronic condition passed down from parents to |
| that creates patches of darker skin due to over | | | | children. There is no cure though there are a few |
| production of Melanin . Melanin is the pigment that gives | | | | things you can do to minimise its appearance: |
| colour to our skin. The more melanine you produce the | | | | The one most important thing you should try to do |
| darker your skin colour. This is why you will not see | | | | in avoid the sunlight If sun avoidance is not possible |
| this condition on albinos (who do not produce melanin | | | | then make sure you wear a hat on sunny days, sun |
| at all) or on people with dark skin. This over production | | | | block, and protective clothing Never go on sunbeds |
| of melanin is similar to those who suffer hay fever and | | | | If you live in a country with seasons it will be possible |
| other kinds of allergies in the sense that their bodies | | | | that the darker patches lighten up when winter sets in |
| over react to an external stimuli. In the case of | | | | as the affected areas might be covered and the |
| Melasma the external stimuli is the sun. | | | | sunlight will not shine as strong as in countries in the |
| The body will create melanine when our skin is | | | | equator.This is a very slow developing condition so if |
| exposed to the sun, this is what people know as | | | | you do not have signs of it but are aware that your |
| tanning. The porpoise of tanning is to protect the body | | | | mum or aunties have had it, it will be wise to take |
| from sun damage. If we didn’t produce melanine | | | | precautionary measures. |
| any amount of sun could burn the skin. Melasma | | | | What is the "Mask of Pregnancy"?Melasma is also |
| occurs when patches of skin overproduce melanine | | | | known as The Mask of Pregnancy because it |
| making certain areas of the body a lot darker than the | | | | appears around the face area (like a mask) during |
| rest. | | | | pregnancy. This is due to the change in hormone levels |
| What parts of the body are normally affected by | | | | that affect pregnant women in order to prepare their |
| Melasma?Melasma appears as a dark patch of skin in | | | | bodies to accept and keep this foreign organism |
| the arms (in the case of Latin) and in the face = lips, | | | | growing inside them. This type of Melasma will |
| upper lips, upper cheeks and forehead (in the case of | | | | disappear a few months after giving birth, when the |
| German, Jewish, Russian descent) and on all areas in | | | | hormone levels return to normal. |
| the case of Asians. Melasma can appear in men but it | | | | What can I do to get rid of these dark patches?In the |
| is very unlikely. | | | | case of those women who get Melasma during |
| Who is more commonly affected by | | | | pregnancy it is recommended for them to wait a few |
| Melasma?Melasma will appear mainly on tanned and | | | | months to allow their bodies to recover. It after a few |
| Brown skins. It affects mainly women who live in areas | | | | months your skin does not go back to normal it can be |
| off the world where the sun shines brighter, that is on | | | | treated with IPL (Intense Pulse Light). This treatment |
| all parts of the world near and around the Equator. | | | | can also be applied on people with the genetic |
| This means that most Latin American women and | | | | predisposition to it. But it is essential to follow the |
| Asian women can present this condition. You might | | | | guidelines of avoiding the sun once you have been |
| also see this condition in people of German, Jewish | | | | treated in order to minimise, or even prevent having to |
| and Russian descent. | | | | go through this treatment again. |
| The cycle of melanin production?Sun shines hits the | | | | |