Both men and women can suffer from melasma. It is characterized by large, dark patches of skin over certain parts of the face. This skin discoloration, or hyperpigmentation, generally appears on the forehead, cheeks and nose.

It is most often seen in people with darker or olive toned skin, but can affect anyone. Hormonal fluctuations and excessive sun exposure are two of the factors that can cause melasma. In pregnant women it is normal to see these marks appear because of hormonal changes.

Melasma may sound dangerous, but it is by no means a dangerous condition. However, it can significantly alter your appearance. In fact, in some people it can show up as very noticeable, dark spots, in which case it is essential that they find proper melasma treatment.

The most common treatment options are the following:

*Chemical Peels

Chemical peels are a great option in the treatment of melasma because the intensity of the peel can be controlled to best suit your needs. The depth of the chemical peel will depend on the chemicals used by the specialist. Any discomfort that you might feel can be treated with cooling agents and/or topical anesthetics.

*Laser Treatment

Laser treatment is another type of treatment that will allow you to determine the depth or intensity of the procedure depending on your needs. This procedure offers the specialist the possibility of controlling the area that is being treated. It can repair only the affected skin and not interfere with the surrounding tissue.

You will need a local anesthetic for this procedure. Both swelling and redness are normal effects of laser treatments.

*Microdermabrasion

If you would like a gentler treatment that requires no downtime, microdermabrasion is the ideal treatment option for you. It does not require anesthesia, but might require more than one session depending on the extent of the problem.

*Bleaching Creams

Bleaching creams are also used to correct skin tone problems and melasma. These products help lighten the skin, and work best over larger areas of the skin.

All of the previous procedures and products have one vital goal in common: to get an even skin tone. Nevertheless, the effects are not permanent if you don't take the proper care. Exposing your skin to sun exposure can cause melasma to reappear.

Therefore, avoid going out into the sun without wearing a sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher. Reapply frequently during the day. Also, wear wide brimmed hats to keep the sun from directly hitting your face.