Melasma is a common pigmentation disorder that causes brown or gray patches to appear
on the skin, primarily on the face.
As a result, people with darker skin tones are more likely to develop melasma, as they
have more melanocytes than people with lighter skin.
So In this video, im going to go over what melasma is, what causes it, how to treat melasma,
especially if you have darker skin, and 1 very important tip you dont want to miss out
on, when it comes to preventing it, so stay tuned till the end.
Hi guys, yaseen arsalan, media pharmacist here on youtube where I help you guys make
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So without further ado, lets get straight into it.
First off: The symptoms of melasma are going to look different depending on a person’s
skin tone.
But In general, melasma causes patches of dark skin on high points of the face.
And Melasma on dark skin appears as dark brown or grey-brown patches.
These patches often appear in a symmetric pattern on both sides of the face, mainly
appearing on the cheeks, nose, forehead, upper lip, and chin.
But why does it happen you might ask?
Well, it occurs when melanocytes, which produce the pigment you see on your skin, when they
produce too much pigmentation in the skin, the result is dark patches.
People with black or brown skin have more melanocytes.
This means that they are more likely to develop melasma than people with lighter complexions.
It will usually begin in adults in their 20s or 30s.
However, some forms of melasma do not appear until a person actually reaches their 40s.
And it occurs more often on female skin than on males.
This is because pregnancy which triggers an increase in hormones is said to be a common
cause of melasma.
And While melasma isn't painful and doesn't present any health risks, it can cause significant
emotional distress for the estimated six million American women who develop these dark patches
on their faces.
Which is why I wanted to make this video, to hopefully point you in the right direction
and get you to reach your skincare goals.
We mentioned that pregnancy can be a possible trigger of melasma, and on that same token,
Melasma may also occur when you either start or stop hormonal contraception, including
birth control pills, or when you take hormone replacement therapy, so if you fit into that
category, thats something to keep note of.
Now lets get into three over the counter treatment options you can try out today to help boosten
your skins complexion.
All the links to the products will be mentioned in the description below, so dont forget to
check those out.
Something important to keep in mind is Your dermatologist may have prescribed medications
or topical treatments to help lighten melasma.
These include topical retinols and retinoid treatments, which are applied to the skin
to help speed your body's natural cell turnover process.
So as far as over the counter products, the first is going to be the popular one: hydroquinone.
If your currently on a regimen of hydroquinone, which works by blocking melanin production,
keep following your dermatologists instructions until the melasma clears up.
While hydroquinone is available over the counter to use,your best bet is to see if its right
for your skin type and if so, it should only be applied on the dark spots themselves.
Higher concentrations of hydroquinone can cause white spots to develop on the skin,
which is why its important to have a consultation to see if your skin would be a good fit for
it first.
The most common melasma therapies include the 2% hydroquinone (HQ) creams, and Clinical
studies do show us that creams containing 2% HQ can be effective in lightening the skin
and are less irritating than higher concentrations used for melasma.
The second product is Kojic acid.
Kojic acid, Inhibits an enzyme necessary in the production of melanin, helping to fade
dark spots and discoloration.
It also delivers some antioxidant protection and you’ll likely start to see results within
two weeks.
Keep in mind that if your skin is sensitive: its best to not use it daily at first; instead,
work it into your regimen just once or twice per week to ensure that your skin can tolerate
the ingredient then you can move on to daily use Overall kojic acid is relatively gentle
on the skin (which is why it’s such a good alternative if your skin doesnt respond well
to hydroquinone.
The third product is azelaic acid.
Azelaic acid works to improve melasma in two ways.
First, it encourages cell turnover to exfoliate the skin and promote new, healthy skin growth.
Second, azelaic acid also has antioxidant properties that help remove free radicals
that can contribute to dull skin for a naturally brighter complexion.
Something to keep note of is that much of the research" on topical azelaic acid is for
the prescription-strength formulas with 15- to 20-percent concentrations.
While lower-grade options that are available over-the-counter can work, you often find
azelaic acid products combined with other ingredients as it can possibly be more effective
combined with kojic acid, vitamin c, and other exfoliants.
But I get it, you might be asking how long will that take?
In terms of how long it will take, your looking at a minimum of a two-month commitment with
prescription-strength azelaic before seeing improvement in hyperpigmentation.
If you’re using an OTC product, you’ll see results after three to four months.
So yes, it may seem like forever, but its a good wait to get the complexion you are
seeking.
I personally recommend to use it as the final step in your skin care routine to prevent
it from smearing.
So there you go theres 3 melasma fighting products you can try out at home.
And if you want me to go in detail about any of these 3 or other products, leave me a comment
below, and id be happy to discuss them on this channel.
But if theres one tip that I would want to leave you with that could prevent your melasma
from getting worse or even coming back, which I think is a fundamental step in all of skincare,
and that is, sun protection!!
One of the most common treatments for melasma is sun protection.
Since sunlight triggers melasma, it is important to wear sunscreen every day, even on cloudy
days and after swimming or sweating.
Choose a sunscreen that offers broad-spectrum protection, an (SPF) of 30 or more, and zinc
oxide and/or titanium dioxide to physically limit the effects of the sun’s rays on your
skin.
Apply the sunscreen 15 minutes before going outside and reapply it at least every two
hours.
This will help prevent melasma from getting worse, not to forget to mention all the numerous
other skin benefits sunscreen has.
And 2 last bonus tips I would leave you with since you made it all the way to the end:
is to establish a good cleansing regimen: Environmental pollution can contribute to
melasma, Airborne pollutants can bind to the skin and corrode the protective surface, making
it weaker and more susceptible to sun damage.
Clean your skin every night before bed with a cleanser that can thoroughly remove dirt
and debris.
I left one that I personally use in the description below and it works wonders for my skin.
And lastly: Moisturize your skin regularly.
Use a good moisturizer to restore the lipid barrier of the skin, which helps to protect
it from damage.
Overall its frustrating because Melasma can be stubborn.And.
It may take a few months of treatment to see improvement.
But i cant stress the importance of being patient.
It is important to follow your dermatologist’s advice in the meantime as well.
Since This ensures that you get the most benefit from your treatment.
And thats it guys, I hope that this video helps give you a better understanding on treating
melasma.
I also hope this video was insightful to you guys, the only thing I ask in return is just
a simple like down below for the youtube algorithm.
Thanks for sticking tuned till the end, and as always, Ill see you on the next one.