Melasma is a common skin condition with 200,000 new cases diagnosed in the USA every year. It is characterized by dark patches on the face. These areas can be small in size or small in number. Or they can involve large continuous areas of skin. Melasma does not cause any symptoms other than their unsightly appearance. The areas of the face that are involved are the cheeks, forehead, bridge of the nose, above the upper lip, and on the chin.  Some people will develop melasma on other areas of the body, especially if those areas are exposed to the sun.  But for most people it is the dark patches on their face that is most bothersome. Thankfully, we offer melasma treatment in Hartford.

Melasma is much more common in women than men. It is also more common in people with dark skin color. Sun exposure can cause an exacerbation of melasma. The thinking is that sun stimulates melanocytes – the cells that cause pigment in the skin. Though this is normal and occurs in everybody, in people with melasma the stimulation of melanocytes is exaggerated, leading to very dark areas on the face.

It is also thought that melasma is related to female hormonal changes. Thus, it is brought on in some women by hormone replacement therapy, birth control pills, and pregnancy.  It is so common in pregnancy that it has its own name – the mask of pregnancy.

Melasma waxes and wanes. That is, it spontaneously goes through periods of time when it is more severe and periods of time when it is less noticeable.