Melasma is a condition caused by the overproduction of melanin in certain areas of your skin. Cells called melanocytes make melanin to protect your skin from sun damage. Melanin also gives color to the eyes, skin, and hair. Melasma occurs when melanocytes in parts of your skin become activated to make too much melanin. Common places for melasma include the forehead, cheeks, jawline, and upper lip, although it can affect other areas of the face and body.
Melasma can spread across the face or appear as blotches or spots. It is flat, smooth, and not itchy or irritated. It feels the same as a freckle, which is also a small spot of melanin overproduction. Melasma varies widely in appearance and may have a blotchy appearance with different colors. Some people have light pigmentation, while others may see a much darker tone.
Melasma has many underlying causes, some of which are unknown. Hormones play a significant role. Sun exposure, medications, and certain medical conditions can also affect melasma. Pregnancy is one of the most common triggers, but pregnancy-related melasma often fades in the months afterward.
This condition occurs when skin cells called melanocytes produce too much melanin. Melanin is a pigment produced by our skin to protect itself from sun damage. It also adds color to the hair, eyes, and skin. Your melanocytes can become overactive due to sun exposure, hormonal changes, and other factors. The appearance and distribution of your melasma depends on natural variations in your skin, but the most common areas include the forehead, cheeks, jawline, and elsewhere on the body.
Melasma should be treated by experienced providers like those at Premier Vein & Body. It is not safe to treat melasma with traditional lasers. We offer several options for treating melasma without using heat-based laser energy. Dr. Craig Schwartz will determine which one (or a mix of treatments) is for you during a consultation.
PicoSure Focus is our preferred melasma treatment. It uses ultra-fast pulses of pressure energy that trigger skin rejuvenation. It activates your skin’s natural repair process and increases cell turnover, helping to fade melasma and other pigmentation issues. It also improves the overall tone and smoothness of your skin. This treatment can be used alone or as part of a comprehensive plan for addressing your melasma. Because it does not damage the skin, it has little to no downtime and is a popular “lunchtime” procedure.
Opus Plasma™ uses a combination of radiofrequency and plasma energy. Since it does not use laser light energy, this treatment is safe for all skin types and tones. Opus Plasma™ is a fractional treatment that creates tiny areas of micro-damage to fade melasma. This highly customizable treatment can operate at three different intensities to fade your melasma and achieve clear skin. The plasma energy also treats many other concerns, such as skin laxity, acne scars, and textural issues.
TIXEL® is a newer revolutionary skin resurfacing device that safely delivers controlled heat to the skin at high temperatures without burning its surface. The heating with TIXEL® is more superficial than with lasers, so there is less pain. It uses Thermal Energy (in place of laser energy) to target the surface of the skin in two very different ways: first, stimulating collagen and skin tightening for skin rejuvenation and, second, creating micro-channels in the skin that allow for enhanced absorption of topical products when applied to the skin’s surface, such as with Melasma and acne.
TIXEL® provides an effective but not overly aggressive treatment that sits between the results of non-ablative and ablative laser procedures. Along with treating melasma and acne/acne scarring, a series of three TIXEL® treatments can improve fine lines, wrinkles, and skin texture as well as reduce pore size. Along with being an ideal treatment for melasma on the face, it is also safe to use on the neck, chest, and back of hands.
This treatment begins with a carbon-based cream applied to your skin. The carbon immediately begins to absorb oils and other impurities. The PicoSure laser is used to treat the skin, removing the carbon and the impurities it has absorbed. As a result, hyperpigmentation fades to leave your skin even-toned. This treatment is also known as the Hollywood Laser Peel and is a wonderful complementary treatment to one of the above-mentioned treatments.
This treatment combines wet abrasion (similar to a HydraFacial) with wet microneedling. It delivers powerful serums deep into the skin for maximum benefits. The final step is an LED light that calms the skin and triggers collagen production. It brightens and rejuvenates the skin to remove melasma and other hyperpigmentation issues by allowing your product to seep deeper into your skin.
Patients love the “healthy glow” post-treatment, and it is also a wonderful complementary treatment to the more aggressive TIXEL®, Opus Plasma™ and PicoSure treatments, especially when your skin is feeling a little extra “parched” from products and topicals.
Almost anyone with melasma is a good candidate for treatment. Although we will use PicoSure to treat most cases, we have other options if that treatment is not right for you or may recommend a treatment protocol that utilizes a series of various treatments depending on the severity. Good candidates have reasonable expectations and goals. You should not have treatment while you have a skin infection or active condition such as eczema on your face.
Your downtime after melasma treatment depends on the treatment method. One factor that makes PicoSure our preferred treatment is the lack of downtime. You should have no effects beyond a few hours of mild redness. Other treatment methods can result in a few hours to days of redness, minor swelling, and sensitivity.
The results of your melasma treatment may take time to appear. In some cases, brown spots will darken before they fade away. Most people will see noticeable results after a series of treatments. You will notice that your melasma is less visible, and your skin tone looks more even. As a benefit, you will also enjoy smooth, rejuvenated skin.
*Individual Results May Vary
Read from real patients about their experiences with Dr. Schwartz and his team at Premier Vein & Body by Schwartz.
*Individual Results May Vary
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