What is melasma? Don’t be mistaken!
Melasma is also known as liver spots and butterfly spots. It is generally manifested as yellowish-brown pigmentation on the face, mostly symmetrical butterfly-shaped distribution on the cheeks. It is common in adult women, especially in women of childbearing age, and can also occur in men. High estrogen level in the blood is the main reason, and its onset is related to pregnancy, long-term oral contraceptives, menstrual disorders, etc. Stretch marks also belong to chloasma.
The rash is a light brown or yellowish brown patch of irregular shape with clear or indistinct edges, smooth surface and no local inflammation or scaling. There is no self-consciousness, and most of the patients will continue for months or years, and it is aggravated by sunlight. It deepens in summer and decreases in winter.
Understanding the formation factors, comprehensive prevention!
Physiological factors
It is associated with increased levels of progesterone, estrogen and pituitary melanocyte stimulation in the body. Therefore, it is especially common in pregnant women and usually develops in the second to fifth month of pregnancy, and gradually disappears after delivery with the return of menstruation.
Drug Factors
In women taking oral contraceptives, it often occurs after 1-20 months of oral intake and is proven to be due to the combined effect of estrogen and progesterone: estrogen stimulates melanocytes to secrete melanosomes and progesterone promotes the transport and diffusion of melanosomes. Long-term application of medications such as phenytoin sodium (an anti-epileptic drug) and chlorpromazine (a psychiatric drug) have also induced melasma.
Symptomatic reactions
There are female reproductive system diseases such as menstrual disorders, dysmenorrhea, uterine adnexitis, infertility; patients with systemic chronic diseases such as chronic alcoholism, chronic liver diseases, hyperthyroidism, tuberculosis, visceral tumors, etc. also often show symptoms of melasma, so it is thought to be related to endocrine such as ovaries, pituitary and thyroid gland.
Cosmetic factors
Poor quality or improper use of cosmetics can cause melanin deposition and cause disease. The fragrances, decolorizers and preservatives in cosmetics have direct stimulating or allergenic effects on the skin, which will cause local skin dermatitis and pigmentation. If the copper, zinc, lead, mercury content in cosmetics exceeds the standard, the absorption of the skin can enhance tyrosinase activity, thereby accelerating pigment synthesis.
Nutritional factors
Lack of vitamin A, C, E, niacin or amino acid in food is also a common cause of melasma.
Other factors
Genetic factors, sunlight exposure and skin micro-ecological imbalance are also closely related to melasma.
According to the data, 30% of melasma patients have family history; sunlight and ultraviolet radiation can increase melanocyte activity and promote melasma; research also found that there is a change of flora in the lesion area of melasma, which is presumed to be related to the imbalance of skin microecology.
Comprehensive treatment, both inside and outside!
Treatment
First of all, we should look for the cause of the disease and deal with it accordingly; avoid sun exposure and develop the habit of applying sunscreen; adjust emotions, avoid anxiety and maintain a healthy mind; eat less photosensitive food; arrange sleep reasonably, etc.
1, avoid sun exposure, external use of sunscreen; choose the correct, high-quality cosmetics.
2, have chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis and other diseases should be actively treated the original disease; stop using oral contraceptives, phenytoin sodium and other drugs.
3, to maintain a happy mood, adequate sleep, regular diet, less stimulating food.
4, oral vitamin C, vitamin E, etc. can inhibit melanin formation.
Topical drug treatment
1, topical hydroquinone cream (such as thousand white cream, hydroquinone concentration of 2%).
2.Vitamin A acid cream.
3, tranexamic acid Babu paste (Anshu paste overnight mask).
4.L-vitamin C serum (Phytochemical, Hima’s, Xulicor), take 1-2 drops, pat directly on the pigmentation, and then apply moisturizer afterwards; also can do ultrasonic import regularly.
5.Fruit acid skin resurfacing treatment, 1 time per month, 5 times in a row for a course of treatment. It can be combined with the introduction of whitening injection (Myjet needle-free injection technology from Israel).
Systematic medication treatment
1.Oral vitamin C and vitamin E can be taken.
2.Tranexamic acid orally (Torsemide, half tablet taken orally twice a day) or sedation (1.0, once a day for 15 days, and once a week after that).
3. Glutathione orally (3 tablets, 2 times daily), intravenously (once a day for 15 days, then once a week) or topically (morning and evening).
Laser/intense pulsed light treatment
1.Intense pulsed light
Because its waveform is a square wave like the Great Wall battlements, not a minaret-type wave, so there is no energy spikes, which cannot cause side effects such as burns, discoloration, skin sensitivity thinning; at the same time, the energy does not decay to ensure treatment efficiency. After clinical statistics, the effective rate is about 77.5%.
2.Low energy ruby Q-switched Nd-YAG laser is more effective for dermal type melasma.
3. Intense pulsed light/Q-switched Nd-YAG laser renewal therapy is suitable for stubborn melasma. Recommended program: 3 times Q1064/694 + 1 time intense pulsed light for 1 course, interval is 2 weeks, repeat about 3 courses. Better treatment effect and no rebound.
Other factors
Genetic factors, sunlight exposure and skin micro-ecological imbalance are also closely related to melasma. According to the data, 30% of melasma patients have family history; sunlight and ultraviolet radiation can increase melanocyte activity and promote melasma; research also found that there is a change of flora in the lesion area of melasma, and it is presumed that the development of melasma is related to the imbalance of skin microecology.
Comprehensive treatment, both inside and outside!
Treatment
First of all, we should look for the cause of the disease and deal with it accordingly; avoid sun exposure and develop the habit of applying sunscreen; adjust emotions, avoid anxiety and maintain a healthy mind; eat less photosensitive food; arrange sleep reasonably, etc.
1, avoid sun exposure, external use of sunscreen; choose the correct, high-quality cosmetics.
2, have chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis and other diseases should be actively treated the original disease; stop using oral contraceptives, phenytoin sodium and other drugs.
3, to maintain a happy mood, adequate sleep, regular diet, less stimulating food.
4, oral vitamin C, vitamin E, etc. can inhibit melanin formation.
Topical drug treatment
1, topical hydroquinone cream (such as thousand white cream, hydroquinone concentration of 2%).
2.Vitamin A acid cream.
3, tranexamic acid Babu paste (Anshu paste overnight mask).
4.L-vitamin C serum (Phytochemical, Hima’s, Xulicor), take 1-2 drops, pat directly on the pigmentation, and then apply moisturizer afterwards; also can do ultrasonic import regularly.
5.Fruit acid skin resurfacing treatment, 1 time per month, 5 times in a row for a course of treatment. It can be combined with the introduction of whitening injection (Myjet needle-free injection technology from Israel)
Systematic medication treatment
1.Oral vitamin C, vitamin E can be taken.
2.Tranexamic acid orally (Torsemide, half tablet twice a day orally) or sedation (1.0, once a day for 15 days, and once a week thereafter).
3. Glutathione orally (3 tablets, 2 times daily), intravenously (once daily for 15 days, and once weekly thereafter) or externally (morning and evening).