Melasma Treatment in Chandigarh

Get rid of unwanted dark patches and pigmentation from your face with melasma treatment in Chandigarh offered by an expert and top skin doctor at Dr. Ishaa Junejaa Aesthetics.

Melasma is a familiar aesthetic skin concern, a type of hyperpigmentation, primarily characterised as facial pigmentation disorder. It manifests as tan, brown, greyish brown, or bluish-grey symmetric macules with irregular borders or hyperpigmented patches on an individual’s skin. Usually, it develops on areas like the chin, forehead, cheeks, nose, and above the upper lip. For some people, melasma may affect the skin of their jawline, neck, arms, or other body sites. The varying dark coloration on the skin in the form of spots or patches is because of the unique skin tone of an individual.

Melasma is more likely to develop in women aged between 20-40 years, possibly due to hormonal fluctuations. The risk of developing melasma is greater if one has a family history of melasma or/and has a medium or dark skin tone. Melasma is not a painful or itchy skin condition. Having melasma can make an individual self-conscious of his/her appearance.

If you are experiencing melasma and looking for an effective melasma treatment in Chandigarh, do visit Dr. Ishaa Junejaa, a renowned skin expert to achieve a healthy and pigmentation free skin with the advanced treatments offered at her clinic.

What Causes Melasma?

There is no specific cause for melasma. Still, more research is required to figure out the cause of melasma. Some researchers have discovered that in melasma patients, the melanocytes are more active. Melanocytes are the specialised cells known to produce melanin- a coloured pigment. Melanin is what gives one its unique skin, hair, and eye colour. Overactive melanocytes mean more melanin production. Excess melanin deposits in the skin of specific areas cause the skin to darken in contrast to surrounding normal skin. This darkening of the skin in spots or patches is known as hyperpigmentation. Thus, melasma is one of the kinds of hyperpigmentation.

Even after the discovery of overactive melanocytes in melasma patients, the reason behind this happening remains still unclear. The researchers have also seen that melasma is a response to some triggers. Something triggers the melanocytes in the skin to go into overdrive. Here are some of the possible triggers of melasma:

Sunlight or UV exposure- Direct hitting of sunlight on the exposed skin of an individual can trigger more melanin production in that area. This is why melasma is mostly seen affecting the sun-exposed areas of the skin like the face, neck, and arms.
Pregnancy- At the time of pregnancy, there is a rise in the levels of estrogen and progesterone hormones. These hormones are thought to trigger melasma.
Intake of certain medications- Melasma is more likely seen in people taking anti-seizure medications, birth control pills, and photosensitive drugs like some antibiotics, retinoids, and blood pressure medications for a long time.
Stress- This trigger of melasma, is still controversial. As per some research findings, stress is said to be the culprit of melasma. That’s possible because when one is under high stress, one produces more of the hormone cortisol. The cortisol hormone is found to trigger melasma.
Thyroid Disease- Those who have thyroid disease experience some hormonal changes that could trigger melasma. Sometimes, treating thyroid disease by a medical doctor and proper care can help lighten melasma.
Use of Sun-tanning Beds- Just like natural sunlight affects skin pigmentation, the use of sun lamps or tanning beds/creams can expose the skin to strong UV light. This triggers the body to produce more melanin. In some cases, there is uneven pigmentation that leads to freckle-like spots or blotchy patches of melasma.

How to Treat Melasma?

Melasma can fade away on its own like after childbirth or after stopping taking certain medications. For some, melasma can last for several years, maybe for a lifetime. Although melasma does not harm the body, some people want to treat it to improve their appearance.

There are different melasma treatment in Chandigarh available at Dr. Ishaa Junejaa Aesthetics Clinic. The goal of these treatments is to reduce melanin production and restore natural skin colour. A melasma treatment plan usually consists of:

Sun Protection- use sunscreen, wear long-sleeved shirts, sunglasses, hats, and many more to protect from UV rays.
Prescribed Medications- like products containing hydroqui-none, reti-noid (tretin-oin), corticoste-roids, and skin-lightening agents like kojic acid, azelaic acid, or Vitamin C.
In-office Cosmetic Procedures- such as chemical peel, microneedling, P-R-P or GFC therapy, and laser toning.

Most Effective Medical Procedures to Treat Melasma

Chemical Peel for Melasma- In this treatment, the skin expert first checks the extent of the melanin condition and then applies 4 to 5 specific chemicals on the melasma-affected skin one by one. The chemicals are applied with the help of a clean brush and left on the affected skin for some time. A neutralizer may be used at the end.

Anti-melasma peels act on the root cause of melasma. It is an expensive but highly effective treatment for melasma. To enjoy desired results of this treatment, the patient needs to go for multiple sessions.
Laser Toning- To treat melasma with lasers, firstly the dermatologist cleans the treatment site with hypoallergenic soap. Next, the dermatologist irradiates the affected area with lasers like Q-switched ND: YAG, at appropriate settings. The light from the laser device is focused onto the skin for approximately 10 minutes.

Lasers work to thermally destroy extra melanin in the skin of the target area without harming the skin surface. Melasma patients require multiple laser sessions scheduled after every week to get desired results and even more to maintain the results.

Self-care Tips to Make Melasma Less Noticeable

People with melasma can achieve a more even skin tone by following these skin doctor’s - recommended tips:

Sun-protect the Skin- As melasma often appears on the sun-exposed areas of the body, it is very important to daily protect the skin from direct sunlight exposure. For UV protection, whenever possible, people should seek shade when outdoors in the daytime. They should apply broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen of SPF 30 and above even if the weather is cloudy and after going swimming. The sunscreen must be applied 15 minutes before stepping outside, multiple times a day, at least after every 2 hours, especially if there is a lot of sweating.
Use Only Mild, Fragrance-free Skin Care Products- If the skin affected by melasma is applied with any product that irritates the skin, this may darken the skin even more. Thus, one should not use any product that burns or stings the affected skin.
Do Not Wax the Affected Area- If there is unwanted hair on the melasma-affected skin, do not wax the area. Waxing can lead to skin inflammation which can worsen melasma. A dermatologist must be consulted to determine which hair removal method is suitable for anyone having melasma.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Melasma Curable?

Yes, but the process is very slow. Melasma is a challenging skin condition in terms of its treatment. That’s because there is no definite cause of melasma. There is no single treatment known to remove the skin pigment. The cure is hardly possible if the pigmentation of the skin is very deep. Also, sometimes there is a chance of recurrence of melasma.

Can Melasma Resolve on Its Own?

Yes, there is a possibility of melasma spots/patches resolving on their own within a few months of their appearance. But, this is not much likely to happen if the affected individual is pregnant or taking oral contraceptives. There are also chances of melasma returning. To avoid worsening the melasma condition or re-occurrence of melasma in areas where it's fading away, skin specialists can suggest some preventive steps.

How Effective are Anti-melasma Peels?

The anti-melasma peels is considered as the best melasma treatment in Chandigarh on melasma-affected areas. The treatment results vary from person to person as everyone has a different skin type and quality. These peels are proven to be useful for the treatment of melasma either when applied alone or in combination with other topical treatments.

Which Treatment Will Work for My Melasma?

To determine the effective treatment for your skin condition, it is very important to first check that dark spots are the result of melasma. For this, you must have an initial consultation and a thorough skin evaluation with a skin doctor. The skin doctor at Dr. Ishaa Junejaa Aesthetics providing the best melasma treatment in Chandigarh can help you in a thorough evaluation. If you figure out the cause, you can self-care for the affected skin and prevent melasma from developing on your skin again. A skin expert can help figure out the best-suited treatment option for you based on your skin tone, how severe is your melasma condition, and the melasma triggers that you have.

Visit now at Dr. Ishaa Junejaa Aesthetics Clinic, best skin clinic in Chandigarh to learn more on melasma treatment and its cost with the skin experts at the clinic. Book an appointment today for further information!