| What is Melasma/Chloasma?
A patchy brown or dark brown skin discoloration that usually occurs
on face and may result from hormonal changes, as in pregnancy and
during the administration of estrogen containing oral contraceptives.
It is generallly found on sun-exposed areas of the face. Melasma
often fades over several months after stopping oral contraceptives
or hormone replacement therapy(HRT) or after delivering a child.
It may return with additional pregnancies or use of these medications.
The patches gradually fade over many months. In some people, the
discoloration never entirely disappears. However, this condition
develops spontaneously in some women who are neither pregnant, taking
oral contraceptives, nor HRT medications.
Causes, incidence, and risk factors for Melasma/Chloasma
§ Melasma is a very common skin disorder. Though it can
affect anyone, young women with brownish skin tones are at greatest
risk. Chloasma is especially common in women aged 20-40. It is
more common in dark skins than in fair skins.
§ Melasma is often associated with the female hormones
estrogen and progesterone. It is especially common in pregnant
women, women who are taking oral contraceptives ("the pill"),
and women taking hormone replacement therapy during menopause.
§ Sun exposure is also a strong risk factor for melasma.
It is particularly common in tropical climates.
§ Melasma develops due to a combination of genetic, hormonal
and sun related factors
§ Melasma has been referred to as the mask of pregnancy
because it often develops during pregnancy. Because of melasma’s
relation to pregnancy and oral contraceptives, it is thought that
estrogen contributes to its development in predisposed persons.
§ Estrogen is not essential to the development of melasma,
however, as men may also be affected.
§ A factor that does seem to be essential to the development
of melasma is sunlight.
§ Both ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) are
believed to contribute to the formation of melasma in predisposed
persons.
§ It may develop in association with menopause, hormonal
imbalance and ovarian disorders.
§ Melasma may also be triggered by a medication called
Dilantin (phenytoin).
§ It is thought that female sex hormones causes melanocytes
or the pigment-producing cells to produce and deposit excess pigments.
§ Chloasma usually affects women but occasionally is seen
in young men who use after-shave lotions, scented soaps, and other
toiletries.
§ Chloasma is more pronounced during the summer months
as a result of sun exposure. It usually fades a few months after
delivery. Repeated pregnancies, however, can intensify the pigmentation.
§ Chloasma also occurs as a side-effect of taking contraceptive
pills and injected depot contraceptive preparations. It may also
be noticed in apparently healthy, normal, non-pregnant women where
it is presumed to be due to some mild and harmless hormonal imbalance.
§ Sun exposure, following the use of deodorant soaps,
scented toiletries, and various cosmetics can also produce this
mottled pigmentation. This is called a phototoxic reaction and
is due to ultraviolet radiation being absorbed by the chemical
substance on the skin.
§ Deficiency of Folic Acid during pregnancy can also lead
to development of Melasma.
Melasma during pregnancy is relatively common. Sometimes
it is called the "mask of pregnancy." The dark patches
typically last until the pregnancy ends. Despite the strong connection
to hormones, no one knows exactly what causes the skin discoloration.
Other factors that make it more likely that a person
will get melasma include using medications that make you sensitive
to the sun (photosensitizing). These can include some cosmetics
and medicines used to treat ovarian or thyroid problems. If you
are already susceptible to melasma, exposure to the sun increases
your risk. For example, women who are pregnant or who take a hormone
medication and avoid the sun are less likely to develop melasma
than are those who spend a lot of time in the sun.
Symptom Pictore of Chloasma / Melasma:
§ Tan, dark brown patches
§ Irregular in shape
§ These patches usually develop on the upper cheek, upper
lip and forehead.
Picture of Chloasms, Melasma
Pigmentation seen on cheeks and nose.
§ The dark patches often appear on both sides
of the face in a nearly identical pattern. The darker-colored
patches of skin can be any shade, from tan to deep brown.
§ Rarely, these dark patches may appear on other sun-exposed
areas of the body.
§ The dark patches often appear on both sides
of the face in a nearly identical pattern.
§ The darker-colored patches of skin can
be any shade, from tan to deep brown.
§ Rarely, these dark patches may appear on
other sun-exposed areas of the body.
Melasma doesn't cause any other symptoms besides skin discoloration
but may be of great cosmetic concern.
Diagnosis
- Diagnosis is simply done by skin examination.
- Doctor may use a special lamp [Wood’s lamp] that gives off
ultraviolet light; it allows the doctor to see patterns and depth
of skin discoloration more clearly.
- Medical history will help to determine any factors that may
have caused the disorder
Conventional Treatment §
Creams containing tretinoin, kojic acid, and azelaic acid have been
shown to improve the appearance of melasma. Occasionally, doctor
may recommend chemical peels or topical steroid creams.
§ In severe cases, laser treatments can be used to remove
the dark pigment.
Homeopathic Treatment
Homeopathy treats the person
as a whole. It means that homeopathic treatment focuses on the patient
as a person, as well as his pathological condition. The homeopathic
medicines are selected after a full individualizing examination
and case-analysis, which includes the medical history of the patient,
physical and mental constitution etc. A miasmatic tendency (predisposition/suceptability)
is also often taken into account for the treatment of chronic conditions.
The medicines given below indicate the therapeutic affinity but
this is not a complete and definite guide to the treatment of this
condition. None of these medicines should be taken without professional
advice.
Reportorial rubrics:
[Kent] skin, discoloration, brown, liver spot
[Kent] skin, discoloration, brown, chloasma
[Murphy] skin, chloasma
[Boericke] skin, chloasma, liver spots, moth patches
[Boenninghausen’s] Skin, Spots, Liver (brown, liver-colored,
chloasma)
Homeopathy Therapeutics
Sulphur, Lycopodium clavatum, Sepia offincinalis, Thuja
occidentalis, Argenticum nitricum, Cadmium sulphuratum,
Copaiva offincinalis, Guarana, Caulophyllum, Thalictroides, Plumbum
metallicum, Curare.
Homeopathic Remedies:
Sulphur
Skin affection after local medication. Old looking. Spotted face.
Skin dry, rough, wrinkled, scaly; Itching, violently at night.
Scrofulous diathesis. Liver spots. Unbreakable itching, especially
from warmth. Dirty, filthy people, prone to skin affection.
Lycopodium Clavatum
Grayish-yellow discoloration of the face, with blue circles around
the eyes. Brown spot on face and nose. Carbo nitrogenoid constitution.
Craves everything warm.
Sepia Offincinalis
Chloasma; yellow spots [moth spots] the on the face, and a yellow
saddle across the upper part of cheeks and nose. Suited to patient
with having dark hair, rigid fibre. Ailments during pregnancy.
Thuja Occidentalis
Dry skin with brown spot. Hydrogenoid constitution. skin looks
dirty. Face, pale, waxy, shiny; dark under eyes; spiderlets on.
Argenticum Nitricum
Face looks sunken, old, pale and bluish. Brown liver spot; irregular
blotches. Skin is brown, tense and hard. A prematurely aged look.
Irregular blotches
Cadmium sulphuratum
Chloasma, yellowish stains on nose and cheeks; worse from exposure
to sun and wind.
Copaiva Offincinalis
Brown spot; circumscribed, lenticular patches with itching. Mottled
appearance.
Guarana
Chloasma on temples and arms. intellectual excitement; uncontrollable
sleepiness.
Caulophyllum Thalictroides
Discoloration of skin in women with menstrual and uterine disorders.
Plumbum metallicum
Yellow, corpse like dark brown liver spots; cheeks sunken. Skin
of face is greasy, shiny. Face pale cachetic.
Curare
Red face. Dirty looking skin. Melasma.
Prevention of Chloasma, Melasma.
- Avoiding the sun and using sunscreen
are key to preventing melasma.
- Avoid irritating the facial skin- No strong soaps or abrasive
cleaners - use only a mild soap or cleanser for washing.
- Increase intake of foods high in folic
acid, dark green leafy vegetables, wheat germ, asparagus, broccoli,
potatoes, whole grains, fruits and vegetables.
|
Forums
Courses
Shop
Diseases
Articles
Journal
Directory
