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Melasma |
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Melasma, more commonly known as "the mask of pregnancy," is brown pigmentation on the cheeks, around the eyes and sometimes on the forehead or above the lip. It is most often caused by the hormonal changes or fluctuations of pregnancy, which make your skin more likely to develop dark patches of pigment when exposed to sunlight. However, melasma can occur independently of pregnancy and can even affect men. Darker skin types are particularly susceptible. Waxing of facial hair (especially |
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above the lip), allergic reactions to skincare products, or other causes of inflammation can add to the pigmentation already present. Above all, sun exposure is the worst thing for melasma, and almost always make the pigmentation worse.
The best way to avoid or minimize melasma is to wear sunscreen-EVERY morning, every day, year-round. You may not feel that you spend a lot of time outside but even incidental exposure through your car window can make melasma worse. Choose an ultra-broad-spectrum sunscreen that blocks both UVA and UVB rays. UVA rays in particular contribute to darkening of the skin and can even permeate windows. Many sunscreens contain great UVA blockers such as parsol 1789 or the physical blockers zinc oxide or titanium dioxide. Tinting the windows in your care to block out the ultraviolet light can be a big help.
In my opinion lasers don't help in treating melasma. I use topical treatments with or without AHA peels. In my experience, some of the newer AHA peels work the best, in combination with a rigorous topical regimen.
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To answer your specific questions or schedule a consultation, call Dr. Bernstein today at 610-645-5551.
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Dr. Eric Bernstein
is a nationally recognized dermatologist. His office is located in Ardmore, next to Philadelphia, Radnor, Villanova, Devon, Gladwyne, Bryn Mawr, Haverford, Wynnewood, Narbeth, Rosemont, Penn Valley, Elkins Park, and New Hope.
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