What is melasma, the skin condition that journalist Silvana ‘la Veneno’ Torres has and how to treat it

melasmaalso called chloasma faciei or chloasma, is a acquired skin pigment disorder, characterized by areas of discoloration known as hyperpigmentation. Hyperpigmentation refers to the darkening of the natural skin color due to increased deposition of melanin, the pigment that determines the color of eyes, skin and hair.

Silvana ‘la Veneno’ Torres reveals that she has melasma, a product of pregnancy

Melasma usually occurs symmetrically on both sides of the face, and can sometimes appear in other sun-exposed areas.

This condition can affect both men and women, although it is much more common among them, explains dermatologist Anna Hernández (magazine Osmosis, from Elsevier). “Darker-skinned people and those who tan easily are at greater risk than fair-skinned people, as they naturally have more melanin in their skin.”

Yalitza Aparicio admits that she suffers from melasma, a disease that attacks her skin

Why do pregnant women have melasma?

Chloasma or melasma is often referred to as the ‘mask of pregnancy’ due to its high prevalence among pregnant women. The exact mechanism by which pregnancy causes chloasma is not fully understood, although it is believed to be the result of hormonal changes associated with estrogen and progesterone that occur during pregnancy.

What are the signs and symptoms of melasma?

Melasma manifests as irregularly shaped patches of skin that appear darker in color than the surrounding skin and have a mesh or mesh appearance.

Depending on the location of melanin deposition within the layers of the skin, the color of the lesions can vary from light to dark brown, and sometimes ash blue. Skin lesions are often distributed symmetrically on sun-exposed areas, especially on the cheeks, but can also appear on the nose, upper lip, chin, and forehead.

The measurements on the skin are usually well defined, ranging in size from less than 1 centimeter to more than 10 cm. Although chloasma usually does not cause symptoms, such as itching or pain, it can cause significant cosmetic problems and psychological distress, which can significantly affect the quality of life of the affected person.

What kind of skin care should a cancer patient have?

How is melasma treated?

There are several options for treating melasma, including skin lightening products, chemical peels, and light or laser therapies. Skin lightening products are topical medications that aim to lighten hyperpigmented areas by reducing melanin production. These medications include hydroquinone, retinoids, topical corticosteroids, azelaic acid, and tranexamic acid. All these drugs can be used as single agents or, more often, in combination with each other.

People who do not respond well to these medications can be treated with chemical (glycolic acid) peels, which aim to remove excess melanin from the surface of the skin, thereby reducing hyperpigmentation. Chemical peels are often used in combination with skin lightening agents to increase effectiveness.

Finally, if it doesn’t respond to all other treatment options, people can receive laser therapy or light-based therapies to remove pigmented areas of the skin.

Treating melasma can sometimes be challenging because it is usually a long-term condition and can recur over time. Because of this, maintenance therapies and strict sun protection are often necessary to control the condition. Regardless of the treatment chosen, certain steps can be taken to prevent further progression of chloasma, such as avoiding or reducing sun exposure, using broad-spectrum sunscreens, and wearing a wide-brimmed hat to protect the face from the sun.

Breast cancer and skin cancer, those that were most detected last year in Solca-Manabí

Does melasma go away?

Chloasma disappears over time with proper treatment and strict sun protection. It is still a chronic condition, which means that although existing lesions may disappear completely, some people may still experience new attacks with certain triggers, such as during periods of increased sun exposure, future pregnancies, treatment with oral contraceptives or hormone replacement therapy.

How long does it take for melasma to go away?

Chloasma usually begins to disappear after several months of optimal treatment or after the disappearance of possible contributing factors. For example, when chloasma is caused by hormonal changes associated with pregnancy, the hyperpigmentation usually disappears on its own a few months after delivery. For some people, the skin spots may not disappear completely, but they may become less noticeable over time.