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Melasma Research Paper

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Melasma is a common skin condition, especially for women. Of all the people who have melasma, 90 percent are women, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. The condition appears as brown or gray patches that mainly form on the forehead, nose, cheeks and chin. Other parts of the body that are regularly exposed to direct sunlight can also develop melasma such as the forearms and neck.

One of the reasons women are more prone to developing melasma is because it can be triggered by hormones. It is so common during pregnancy that it is also called the mask of pregnancy. Birth control pills and hormone replacement therapy can also trigger melasma. Thyroid disease and stress have also been linked to the development of melasma in some individuals. It is also more common on people with darker skin than in people with very fair skin, and people who have family members with melasma are at higher risk of developing it than others.

Melasma is not dangerous, but it can be embarrassing and cause people to become self-conscious about their appearance. A visual exam is the most common way to diagnose melasma, but there are some tests we perform to determine how many layers of skin the coloration …show more content…

You may need topical steroids in certain places, and if these creams do not work, we may recommend a chemical peel, dermabrasion or microdermabrasion as possible options. These procedures wear away the upper layers of skin, or in some cases the mid layers revealing the fresh skin underneath. When this happens, the deeper layers will automatically try to replace the layers that have been removed with new skin. The new skin will not have melasma. Not all cases of melasma may clear up with the available treatments. There are some things that can be done to minimize the appearance and make sure it does not worsen such as using makeup to cover the affected areas or taking prescribed

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