Melasma is a skin disease that appears as irregular brown skin patches on the cheeks, nose, forehead and upper lip. Melasma is not dangerous, but can affect your appearance, personality and self-confidence. Various treatment options are available and dermatologists have found melasma laser treatment to be effective. Causes of Melasma: Melasma is caused by an overproduction of melanin. Melanin is the substance that gives color to the skin. The exact cause of this type of hyperpigmentation is not known. However, the four main factors that contribute to melasma are hormones, genetics, skin inflammation and sun exposure. Intense exposure to the sun can make the problem worse. Pregnancy and menopause can also trigger melasma. It is common among pregnant women and is called “the mask of pregnancy”. Who is affected? Melasma is very common in women and affects approximately 45 million people worldwide. It is common in people with darker skin tones than lighter ones. It is more common in pregnant women or in women who are taking hormone replacement medications or birth control pills. Melasma can also affect men, but it is rare. Types: There are three types of melasma: • Epidermal • Dermal • Mixed Epidermal plasma develops near the surface of the skin and can be easily controlled. Skin plasma present deep in the skin layers is difficult to treat. Mixed plasma is a condition when both types are present.Melasma Laser Treatment:Melasma Laser Skin ResurfacingThis process is precise and can be performed either on the entire face or on a particular part of the face. Laser resurfacing can treat other irregularities and imperfections in skin texture and pigment. This form of laser melasma treatment...... middle of paper...... 30 to 60 after treatment. Sun damage is the main factor causing melasma; so always use sunscreen, regardless of your skin type. Other Melasma Treatment Methods: Sun protection is very essential to treat melasma. It is advisable to use a good sunscreen lotion with high SPF that protects your skin from UVA and UVB rays. You can prevent skin discoloration by covering your body. When melasma only affects the epidermal layers, chemical peels and skin lightening agents can work well in such cases. There are also whitening agents that do not whiten your skin, but decrease melanin activity. They help reduce the appearance of skin discolorations and dark spots. The effectiveness of bleach and skin lightening varies from person to person. It is advisable to consult a dermatologist before starting melasma treatment.