AKA Chloasma

  • A condition in which brown patches appear on the face.
  • It can be due to hormonal changes during pregnancy, post menopause or from sun exposure.
  • Women are much more likely than men to develop this condition.

OCCURANCE

  • Very common.
  • Occurs in more than 1 million cases per year in India.
  • It is treatable by a medical professional.
  • It is usually self-diagnosable.
  • Lab tests or radio-imaging is not required.

Chronic : Can last for years or be life-long.

SYMPTOMS

  • Usually self-diagnosable.
  • The brown or grey-brown patches of melasma appear most often on cheeks, forehead, nose and chin.
  • People may experience darkening of skin.

TREATMENT : Treatment consists of skin care during

  1. SUPPORTIVE CARE
  • Monitoring for changes or improvement instead of taking action right away.

    2. MEDICATIONS  [as prescribed by the dermatologists]

  • Sun protection [sunscreens containing zinc oxide, titanium oxide, iron oxide],
  • Hydroquinone,
  • Tretinoin, mild corticosteroid,
  • Triple combination cream,
  • Azelaic acid, Kojic Acid,  Vitamin C,
  • Tranexamic acid.  

  3. TREATMENTS. 

  • Chemical peels,
  • Micro needling,
  • Laser and Light treatments,
  • PRP. 

PIGMENTARY DEMARCATION LINES (PDLs)


These are physiological lines that are abrupt transitions from deeply pigmented areas to lightly pigmented areas in skin.

These are rare and seen in African, Indian and Japanese patients , usually females.

The types of PDLs are : Type A, Type B and Type C.

Type A and Type C are commonly seen children.

Type B occurs after 7th month of pregnancy and regress after delivery. 

MANAGMENT: Managed by using 

  • Topical depigmenting products,
  • Chemical peel sessions,
  • Q switched Alexandrite Laser.