Melasma is a known skin pigmentation disorder. Most skin disorders and conditions are somewhat associated with dangerous and malignant conditions. However, melasma is a benign condition that doesn’t affect or harm your health in any way but is more of a cosmetic issue. It is basically a skin discolouration, which could be brought on by a multitude of different factors. Although the exact causes have not been determined and defined by medical professionals, some of the causes linked to the development of melasma include constant exposure to UV rays, various hormone imbalances and it seems to be more common for women during pregnancy.
Melasma causes skin discolouration, which manifests itself as grey or brown patches which are usually concentrated around the face. Most prominently, the upper lip, the forehead and the cheeks. According to OneFaceClinic there are quite a few effective options when it comes to melasma treatment in Singapore.
Dermatology checkup and diagnosis
It all starts with a visit to a dermatologist. The professional will want to take a closer look at your case of melasma. They will usually be able to identify it through a visual examination. But, because melasma is often similar to a few other skin conditions that are actually harmful to human health, in some instances the doctor may request a biopsy, to further examine and confirm that this is indeed melasma before continuing on to treatment options. It should be worth noting that treatment is not always required for melasma.
In some cases, it can fade and disappear on its own, if given enough time. In other cases, melasma may continue to return or never fade away in the first place. When this is the case, melasma treatment in Singapore comes into play. Although there are several different methods of treating melasma, whether any of the given treatments will work depend solely on the patient. Not all of these methods will be guaranteed to work, but there are several different methods to try and most of them are known to be very effective.
Topical solutions and treatments
Most of the melasma treatment in Singapore comes down to topical solutions being applied to the affected area over a period of time. One of the most common solutions dermatologists are likely to suggest is hydroquinone. This is commonly found in the form of a cream or gel that can be applied directly to the affected area. You can easily get it over-the-counter, but there are stronger solutions that a doctor can prescribe. It is actually going to lighten the colour of the skin patches until they are closer to the pigmentation of your unaffected skin. Other options include corticosteroids and tretinoin creams, which also serve the same purpose but are considered stronger than hydroquinone.
In cases where one or the other wouldn’t change your particular case of melasma, your dermatologist may suggest that you use a combination of both, in hopes that the strengthened solution combining all of these ingredients will have better effects. When creams don’t work, the next step would be a variation of different acids that are not hurtful or harmful to the body but can also lighten the darker patches of skin to the same effect. This includes things like kojic or azelaic acids.
Medical procedures
If all of the topical solutions listed above and up producing no desirable results, there are a few medical procedures that can be considered. Starting with laser treatment and chemical peel procedures, there are some light therapies that can address the issue just as well. Then you have minimally invasive procedures, such as a microdermabrasion treatment, which is meant to renew your skin tone and texture. Keep in mind that some of these procedures, while not harmful on their own, may have their unique side effects or have the potential to cause further issues down the road. These should only be considered if all of the previous topical solutions and treatments have been attempted and exhausted.
Things you could do to help your skin
Before seeking out and the siding on a melasma treatment in Singapore, make sure that you have consulted your dermatologist at least once and that you have gone to a consultation and a visual exam. Outside of treatments that could be prescribed or suggested to you by a dermatologist, there are some things you could be doing independently, in order to try and remedy this on your own. Taking very good care of your skin and cleaning it every night with special cleansers might help remedy this over time. Concentrated serums of vitamin C or E can help offset melasma that resulted from sun damage. A good skin moisturizer is also known to help. You should keep in mind that all of these methods don’t work as quickly as actual treatments prescribed to you by the dermatologist might. It will take a lot of patience and persistence before you can see any positive results start to manifest themselves.
