The most common skin spots due to the harmful effects of the sun are freckles, pregnancy spots, solar lentigo and melasma. Skin spots may also appear as a result of the interaction of some cosmetic products, medications, chemicals and plant sap with sunlight.
What is melasma?
Melasma type spots usually last 20 days. They are bilateral, symmetrical, brown, sharp, irregularly bordered spots that are seen from the 1900s onwards and are often seen on the face.
Who gets it?
It is more common in women between the ages of 20-40 and in people with dark skin. 90% of the cases are women and 10% are men. The form of melasma seen during pregnancy is called chloasma or pregnancy mask.
What are the causes?
The exact cause of melasma is unknown. Sunbathing, pregnancy, hormone treatments and birth control pills trigger sunspots. Its relationship with thyroid diseases is not clear, but it is likely to occur together with hypothyroidism. The fact that it can be seen in more than one person in the family suggests that there may be a genetic predisposition. 30% of patients have a family history. Like many diseases, melasma can be related to stress. Pigmentation develops due to excessive production of melanin by melanocytes, the color cells in the skin, due to triggering factors. The most important preventable risk factor is sun exposure and sun damage. However, melasma is most common in healthy, non-pregnant adults.
Melasma clinic?
Bilateral and symmetrical, brown, sharp, irregularly bordered spots, most commonly on the forehead, cheeks, nose, upper lip, chin. and rarely occurs on the neck and arms. It becomes more noticeable in the summer months. The superficial type is dark brown in color and becomes evident with wood light. Response to treatment is better. The deep type is light brown or bluish gray in color, does not change with wood light and has little response to treatment. There is also a mixed type, which is the most common type. In many people, melasma occurs as a chronic disease.
What is done in the treatment?
Melasma appears at different depths as superficial, deep and mixed types. He may die. Superficial sunspots respond better to treatment. Deeply located spots have a low response to treatment. Pregnancy spots can also heal spontaneously after birth.
In treatment, sunscreen products with a factor of at least 30 must be used regularly, every 4 hours during the day, in summer and winter. In addition, even when using sunscreen, one should not be exposed to too much direct sun, be careful to stay in the shade and wear a hat and glasses.
After October, when the sun's rays begin to lose their effect; Blemishes can be treated by using spot removal creams, chemical peeling, enzymatic peeling, laser treatments, PRP and mesotherapy methods alone or together. However, since there is no scientific data regarding the pregnancy period, these applications should not be used. Spot treatment is not recommended during the summer. When treating spots, very aggressive treatments should be avoided. Otherwise, it may trigger the blemish.
Superficial melasma can be treated with blemish removal creams. Topical medications include hydroquinone, azeleic acid, tretinoin, and creams containing AHA or their combinations. However, since some of these creams increase sensitivity to the sun, they should be applied at night and washed off in the morning. Otherwise, they may cause sun damage and new skin spots.
No treatment prevents the spots from recurring. Therefore, even if the treatment response is good, sunscreen use should continue in summer and winter after treatment. Protective clothing and hats should be used. A full cure is not possible.
Can we prevent the formation of stains?
In order to prevent the formation of all skin spots, including melasma, it is necessary to know the correct sunbathing. General precautions: stopping hormone medications and birth control pills, lifelong sun protection (at least 30 SPF sunscreen should be applied to the entire face every 3-4 hours in open areas, a hat should be used, and if possible, avoid being in open areas, even if there is shade, between 10.00-16.00). .
Read: 0
