Melasma (chloasma)

Melas­ma is an acqui­red pig­men­ta­ti­on dis­or­der with irre­gu­lar­ly shaped brow­nish patches on the face. It main­ly affects the cheeks, fore­head, upper lip and chin. Women are affec­ted con­sider­a­b­ly more often than men, par­ti­cu­lar­ly during pregnan­cy or while using hor­mo­n­al contraception.

Cau­ses

Three fac­tors act tog­e­ther: a gene­tic pre­dis­po­si­ti­on of the pig­ment-forming cells, hor­mo­n­al influen­ces and abo­ve all UV as well as visi­ble light. Heat and cer­tain medi­ca­ti­ons can inten­si­fy the pic­tu­re. The pig­ment cells react exces­si­ve­ly and depo­sit increased amounts of melanin.

Sym­ptoms

Cha­rac­te­ristic are sym­me­tri­cal, map-like light brown to grey-brown are­as wit­hout sca­ling or itching. They beco­me more pro­no­un­ced in sum­mer and often fade some­what in win­ter. The tran­si­ti­on to the sur­roun­ding skin is usual­ly gradual.

Tre­at­ment

The basis of every the­ra­py is dai­ly high sun pro­tec­tion with a broad-spec­trum fil­ter, ide­al­ly con­tai­ning pig­ments against visi­ble light. In addi­ti­on, brigh­tening acti­ve ingre­di­ents, che­mi­cal peels and careful­ly dosed laser and light pro­ce­du­res are used. Melas­ma tends to recur, which is why con­sis­tent after­ca­re and sun pro­tec­tion are decisive.

Rela­ted tre­at­ment at Swiss Der­ma Cli­nic: Pig­men­ta­ti­on spots treatment