Melasma

While brown skin patches or spots linked to melasma aren't cause for concern, they might make you feel self-conscious about your skin’s appearance. At Adult & Pediatric Dermatology Specialists in Trumbull, Westport, and Derby, Connecticut, the exceptional dermatology team offers treatments to fade the dark spots and make your skin more even-toned. Call the office to learn more, or use the online booking feature today.

What is melasma?

Melasma is a skin condition that causes bluish, gray, or brown patches. It commonly occurs during pregnancy and results from overproduction of color-producing skin cells. Melasma might fade away on its own or need treatment to disappear entirely. See your Adult & Pediatric Dermatology Specialists provider if you’d like to improve your skin tone.

What are the symptoms of melasma?

The common symptoms of melasma include:

• Brown, bluish, or gray patches
• Dark-colored, freckle-like spots
• Uneven-toned skin
• Red patches
• Inflamed skin

Signs of melasma can appear on your face, shoulders, arms, back, jawline, neck, or other areas. It usually develops on the skin commonly exposed to sunlight. 

Melasma can sometimes be confused with other skin conditions, but your dermatologist can identify which skin disorder you have. Melasma might fade away on its own after a few months.

What causes melasma?

Common causes and risk factors associated with melasma include:

• Hormone fluctuations
• Sunlight exposure
• Tanning bed exposure
• Some medicines or birth control
• Genetics
• LED light exposure
• Pregnancy
• Thyroid disorders
• Some cosmetic products, skin care products, or soaps
• Family history of melasma

Up to 50% of people with melasma have someone else in their family with the same condition. But anyone can develop it, and the cause isn’t always known.

How does my dermatologist diagnose melasma?

To find out if you have melasma, the team reviews your symptoms and medical history. They examine your skin that has darker spots and may use a special light to get a more detailed view.

You might also need blood tests to check for thyroid problems or a skin biopsy to detect or rule out other skin conditions.

How is melasma treated?

Solutions for melasma involve treating the root cause, watchful waiting, and taking medications. Your provider recommends protecting your skin from the sun, avoiding tanning beds, reducing LED light exposure from screens, and not using irritating soaps or hormone-containing birth control methods. 

If your current medications increase your risk, your doctor may recommend a change to your medicine regimen. Applying topical medicine to your skin also prevents new pigmented spots from forming. 

Melasma symptoms sometimes go away without treatment. Your Adult & Pediatric Dermatology Specialists provider tailors each treatment based on your preferences, medical history, and the severity of symptoms you experience.

To get screened or treated for melasma, call the Adult & Pediatric Dermatology Specialists office or use the online booking feature today.