What Is Melasma and How I Treated It

Did you ever look at your face in the mirror and notice tiny spots starting to appear? And then one morning, you’re just so surprised that those tiny spots have already turned darker, bigger, and even turned into annoying clusters?

This was me this year. My derma said I should stay away from the sun and put on sunscreen everyday. But despite canceled beach trips and only staying at home because of the pandemic, the spots keep coming out! I got so worried. I panicked! So I did my research and tried to find a solution to this skin problem which turned out to be called MELASMA.

If you’re just as worried as I used to be, read on and learn what it is and how to treat it.

What is Melasma?

Melasma is a common skin disorder or condition characterized by brown or blue-gray flat patches or freckle-like spots. Melasma happens because of the overproduction of the cells that make the color of your skin.

Loosely translated, the word means “black spot”. Commonly affected areas include your face, including the cheeks, upper lip, and forehead, as well as the forearms. Melasma is sometimes called the “mask of pregnancy” because it frequently affects pregnant women. Melasma typically darkens and lightens over time, often getting worse in the summer.

Although this disorder is completely harmless, it understandably makes some people feel self-conscious.

Who can have Melasma?

Women are more likely to get melasma than men: about 10% of those who get melasma are men, 90% women.

15% to 50% of pregnant women get Melasma because they have increased levels of the hormones estrogen and progesterone. These hormones are thought to contribute to melasma. It typically happens during a woman’s reproductive years, usually between 20 and 40 years of age. Rarely during puberty. You’re also at risk if you take oral contraceptives and hormones.

Fairer-skinned people are less likely to be affected by melasma than those with darker brown skin or those who tan well.

What are the types of Melasma?

There are three types of melasma and they have to do with the depth of the pigment.

Epidermal melasma – has a dark brown color, a well-defined border, appears obvious under black light, and sometimes responds well to treatment.
Dermal melasma – has a light brown or bluish color, a blurry border, appears no differently under black light, and doesn’t respond well to treatment.
Mixed melasma – the most common type, has both bluish and brown patches, shows a mixed pattern under blacklight and shows some response to treatment.

What causes Melasma?

Pregnancy
Hormones
Genetics
Contraceptive therapy (birth control)
Estrogen/Diethylstilbestrol
Hypothyroidism
Antiseizure medications
Phototoxic drugs (medicines that make you sensitive to sunlight)
LED Screens
Makeup (cosmetics)
Skincare products
Soaps
Tanning beds

Is melasma cancerous?

Melasma is not cancerous. It’s not a sign of cancer, or a skin condition that “turns into” cancer. However, there are skin cancers that may mimic melasma, so seeing your dermatologist is often recommended to confirm the correct diagnosis.

Melasma is harmless. It’s not painful, itchy, or uncomfortable in any way.

Is melasma permanent?

Melasma is a typically chronic disorder. This means that it’s long-lasting (three months or more). Some people have had melasma for years or their entire lives. Other people may have melasma for just a short time, such as during pregnancy.

This leads me to find a solution for this skin problem I was having! Here are what I found:

How to treat melasma?

To determine a treatment plan, you have to first figure out what’s possibly causing the melasma. Is it sunlight? Genetics? Your soap? Your birth control? Too much screen time?

Procedures

There’s CHEMICAL PEEL wherein this procedure, your dermatologist will put a chemical on your skin that may make it peel. The skin that regenerates should be smoother and more evenly colored.
There are also Light-based procedures like intense pulsed light (IPL), non-ablative fractionated lasers, and low fluence Q-switched lasers.

I didn’t have the courage to try any of these procedures, so I researched some more! That’s when I found an ORAL MEDICINE for it!

PYNOCARE (Procyanidin + Ascorbic Acid + Betacarotene + d-Alpha-Tocopheryl Acetate) is the first and only oral medication clinically proven to reduce Melasma or dark spots formation in just 8 weeks!

Unlike creams, lotions, and gels, Pynocare has MSCC or Melasma Skin Clear Complexion Complex formulation that deeply penetrates the inner layers of the skin to help normalize melanin levels, thus minimizing the appearance of dark spots in a short time.

I started taking 1 capsule twice daily with meals (after breakfast and after lunch) and I am now on my 6th week. Deep Melasma may take up to 12 weeks of 2x daily to see visible results. I plan to continue taking 1 capsule a day maintenance to help prevent the recurrence of melasma.

With continuous use of PYNOCARE, it’s possible to see visible results in at least eight weeks. Results vary from person to person depending on the type of pigmentation.

PYNOCARE (Procyanidin + Ascorbic Acid + Betacarotene + d-Alpha-Tocopheryl Acetate) is an over-the-counter drug available at Mercury, Watsons, Southstar, Rose, St. Joseph pharmacy, and other leading drugstores nationwide.

My advice to women and moms like me struggling with melasma

Avoid exposure to sunlight without sunscreen.
Cut down on screen time in front of your LED screen television, tablet, mobile phone, and computer.
Choose a method of birth control that doesn’t include hormones.
Use the treatment and management advice from your dermatologist or another healthcare provider.
Keep your skin healthy in general, try a skin-healthy diet of foods rich in Vitamin D: Almond milk, eggs, meat, mushrooms, orange juice, and yogurt.