Apanemia Health Centre

Melasma is a condition in which some areas of the skin get darker than the rest of the skin. Doctors call this hyperpigmentation.

Generally these areas are obscured in the skin seen on the face, forehead, cheeks and upper lip. The dark patches often appear on both sides of the face in an almost identical pattern. These dark patches can have different shades of brown, from light to dark and rarely appear in areas of skin exposed to sunlight.

Melasma occurs much more often in women than in men and is usually associated with hormonal changes. Why the dark patches develop during pregnancy or if she is following hormone replacement therapy (HRT) or taking oral contraceptives. Melasma is fairly common during pregnancy, sometimes called “mask of pregnancy” or “chloasma.” The dark patches typically last until after pregnancy.

The most important factor in the development of melasma is exposure to sunlight. Taking drugs that make them sensitive to sunlight (photosensitivity) may increase the risk of developing melasma. These can include some cosmetics and medicines used to treat thyroid problems and ovaries. Sun protection is a necessary part of treatment for melasma, such as pregnant women who take hormones and avoid the sun are less likely to develop melasma than those who remain long in the sun.