Since the skin is one of the most exposed organs in the body, it is richly supplied with sebaceous glands and melanocytes which protect the skin from various problems. However, sometimes the skin may suffer from certain skin disorders owing to fluctuations in the hormonal levels and also the external environment.Melasma affects both men and women, but is more prevalent in women than men. Melasma is a skin problem that causes skin discoloration of the facial skin, especially on the cheeks, near the mouth, nose and on the forehead. These are the regions which are exposed to the sun. Before we discuss about ways to get rid of melasma, let us have a look at this skin condition.
Melasma - Reasons for Occurrence
As mentioned earlier, melasma is a skin condition characterized by appearance of tanned skin, which may range from brown to deep gray in color on the face and some regions on the upper arm. This skin condition is more prevalent in ethnicities like Asians, Arabs, Hispanics etc., the main reason being their skin tone. Darker skin tones have more melanin as compared to lighter skin tones. Though women with lighter skin tone may suffer from melasma, it is not that visible in comparison to those with darker skin tones. This peculiar skin rash is more common in pregnant women and is known as chloasma or 'mask of pregnancy'. Though the exact reason why melasma occurs is still unknown, this condition can be triggered due to various factors. Exposure to the sun leads to excess production of melanin, which tends to accumulate in certain regions of the face resulting in discoloration. Birth control pills or hormone replacement therapy are also responsible for this skin condition. However, this condition may fade away after childbirth or if the dose of the hormonal supplements is reduced.
Getting Rid of Melasma
There are several ways with the help of which one can get rid of melasma successfully. If you want to get rid of melasma naturally, then you can use natural ingredients that are available at your home to reduce the pigmentation on the skin. Given here are some of the best ways to get rid of melasma.
One of the basic facts that must be remembered is to avoid exposing the skin to the sun as much as possible. If there are unavoidable circumstances, then apply generous amounts of sunscreen before you step out in the sun. You can also wear other protective shields like a wide brimmed hat that prevents the skin from getting exposed to the sun's harmful UV rays.
Another natural way to get rid of melasma is to apply a mixture of vinegar and water to the discolored area. This melasma natural treatment will help lighten the pigmentation and also brighten the face. Apple cider vinegar or white vinegar can also be used to lighten melasma.
Applying a mixture of turmeric, aloe vera gel and lemon juice is an effective treatment for melasma. Lemon juice and turmeric inhibit the function of the melanocytes, the cells which produce the pigment melanin. Aloe vera has a soothing effect on the skin and also helps reduce the spread of the rash.
Onion juice is also an effective way to reduce brown spots and freckles on the skin. Regular application of onion juice can reduce melanin production and lighten the pigmentation. It also prevents recurrence of melasma induced face discoloration.
Apart from the above mentioned techniques, there are also several other hyperpigmentation treatment methods like chemical peels,microdermabrasion, laser resurfacing, etc. But all these treatment options must be undertaken only after consulting a dermatologist.
Though melasma is a harmless skin condition, skin discoloration in melasma is a matter of cosmetic concern. Hence many women opt for remedies and treatments to get rid of melasma. Hope you found this article on how to get rid of melasma useful and informative.
Great info as usual HV,but what about the cancer scare surrounding the use of hydroquonine?Is there any truth in that?
This is very controversial. The increased risk of cancer has only been shown mice, but never in humans. And part of this basis is from the fact that hydroquinones lower melanin production, which leaves the skin subject to the effects of the sun. But this brings up another controversy as to whether or not the sun causes cancer. The answer here is actually no. The HPV virus causes skin cancer, but sunlight activates the HPV virus.
There is concern that these synthetic hydroquinones can cause other cancers in the body, but again this is speculation.
We also have to keep in mind that there is not a singular hydroquinone, but rather this is a group of chemicals. And there are natural and synthetic versions, which can have different properties. Uva ursi for example breaks down in to two separate hydroquinones with antiseptic properties, but are not carcinogenic. In fact I remember reading back years ago that this was becoming a popular alternative to the synthetic hydroquinones in places like India.
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