Chloasma is a common skin disease that occurs in middle-aged women and is mainly characterized by brownish pigmentation spots on the face.
The pathogenesis of melasma is not clear yet, and its triggers are mainly considered to be sunlight exposure, sex hormone level, genetic susceptibility, etc. Continuous sunlight exposure may trigger or aggravate melasma. Melasma may be induced or exacerbated by continuous sunlight exposure; in addition, it is more likely to occur in pregnant women, women receiving oral contraceptives or women undergoing hormone replacement therapy during menopause.
Melasma is mainly characterized by the appearance of tan patches on the face, mostly symmetrically distributed, with typical rashes located on the prominences of the cheekbones and forehead, and the forearms may also be involved. Doctors can confirm the diagnosis through medical history, typical rash and Wood’s lamp examination.
Once the diagnosis of melasma is confirmed, patients need to pay attention to sun protection and apply moisturizers under the guidance of doctors to repair the skin barrier function.
At the same time, under doctor’s guidance, patients should use topical medications (e.g. topical hydroquinone and its glycoside derivatives, azelaic acid, retinoic acid, etc.), epidermal peeling (e.g. chemical peeling with fruity acid, etc.) and photoelectricity treatments (e.g. laser treatment, intense pulsed light treatment, etc.) to make the brownish color patches lighten or subside, and photoelectricity treatments may provoke the aggravation of chloasma, so it is necessary to choose them with caution.
Once a patient develops brownish pigmentation patches on the face, he/she should immediately go to a regular hospital for a clear diagnosis and standardized treatment under the guidance of a doctor.