MELASMA
Melasma (also known as "Chloasma faciei" or the mask of pregnancy when present in pregnant women) is a tan or dark skin discoloration. Although it can affect anyone, melasma is particularly common in women, especially pregnant women and those who are taking oral or patch contraceptives or hormone replacement therapy (HRT) medications.
Symptoms
The symptoms of melasma are dark, irregular patches commonly found on the upper cheek, nose, lips, upper lip, and forehead. These patches often develop gradually over time. Melasma does not cause any other symptoms beyond the cosmetic discoloration.
Cause
Melasma is thought to be the stimulation of melanocytes or pigment-producing cells by the female sex hormones estrogen and progesterone to produce more melanin pigments when the skin is exposed to sun. Women with a light brown skin type who are living in regions with intense sun exposure are particularly susceptible to developing this condition.
Genetic predisposition is also a major factor in determining whether someone will develop melasma.
The incidence of melasma also increases in patients with thyroid disease.
It is thought that the overproduction of melanocyte-stimulating hormone (MSH) brought on by stress can cause outbreaks of this condition.
Other rare causes of melasma include allergic reaction to medications and cosmetics.
Diagnosis
Melasma is usually diagnosed visually or with assistance of a Wood's lamp (340 - 400 nm wavelength). Under Wood's lamp, excess melanin in the epidermis can be distinguished from that of the dermis.
Treatment
The discoloration usually disappears spontaneously over a period of several months after giving birth or stopping the oral contraceptives or hormone replacement therapy.
Treatments to hasten the fading of the discolored patches include:
Topical depigmenting agents, such as hydroquinone (HQ) either in over-the-counter (2%) or prescription (4%) strength. HQ is a chemical that inhibits tyrosinase, an enzyme involved in the production of melanin.
Tretinoin, an acid that increases skin cell (keratinocyte) turnover. This treatment cannot be used during pregnancy.
Azelaic acid (20%), thought to decrease the activity of melanocytes.
Facial peel with alpha hydroxyacids or chemical peels with glycolic acid.
Laser treatment. A Wood's lamp test should be used to determine whether the melasma is epidermal or dermal. If the melasma is dermal, Fraxel laser has been shown in studies to provide improvement in many patients. Intense pulsed light has also been effective in the treatment of melasma. Dermal melasma is generally unresponsive to most treatments, and has only been found to lighten with products containing mandelic acid (such as Triluma cream) or Fraxel laser.
In all of these treatments the effects are gradual and a strict avoidance of sunlight is required. The use of broad-spectrum sunscreens with physical blockers, such as titanium dioxide and zinc dioxide is preferred over that with only chemical blockers. This is because UV-A, UV-B and visible lights are all capable of stimulating pigment production.
Cosmetic cover-ups can also be used to reduce the appearance of melasma.
Saturday, August 14, 2010
HOW TO FADE DARK SPOTS
How to Fade Post-Acne Red Marks, Dark Spots, Pigmentation, Etc.
Post acne marks, or macules, are also commonly referred to as “acne scars”. Real acne scars, however, are the indentations or protrusions left behind by acne. Acne marks, on the other hand, are the flat red or brown dots left behind by pimples.
Other dark spots and types of hyperpigmentation can come from aging, sun damage, and even using birth control pills.
Most of the time, acne marks will go away on their own. However, sometimes it can take anywhere from six months to many years for them to lighten completely. Sometimes they may even stick around for the rest of your life! Other forms of hyperpigmentation (ones from aging, allergies, etc) don't fade on their own and may even get darker as time goes on.
To treat these red marks and pigmentation issues, consider the following options:
1) Sunscreen
Wearing sunscreen is essential, whether or not you are trying to fade any marks. Sunscreen protects your skin and will prevent cancerous lesions. However, if you want to help speed up the fading of your hyperpigmentation, then it is extra important to use sunscreen consistently because it will prevent macules and other dark spots from darkening even more.
2) Exfoliation
Exfoliating helps fade your marks faster by shedding old skin and bringing newer skin to the surface. There are lots of options for exfoliation; you could use scrubs and washcloths, but I think chemical exfoliation will give you your desired results a bit quicker (and maybe with less irritation as well).
To get rid of red acne marks or hyperpigmentation, you can consider using prescription retinoids, can try over-the-counter products with AHAs as the active ingredient.
However, be aware that these types of topical products can also cause irritation such as redness, peeling, and dryness.
3) Skin Lighteners
Aside from exfoliating to help the skin renew itself faster, you can attack your spots with skin lighteners such as kojic acid, licorice extract, arbutin, mulberry extract, or vitamin C.
Hydroquinone is also a skin lightener
Many Asian products target lightening and whitening of the skin. However, before purchasing any of them, make sure you check the ingredients to see if there are effective skin lighteners in the product.
Some people also say to apply vitamin E (either a vitamin E product, 100% vitamin E oil, or vitamin E poked from a gel capsule) but in my experience, vitamin E is very irritating on its own.
The thing about exfoliating or using topical products is that even though they shorten the amount of time it takes to fade red marks, it still takes time for them to work. Consistent use will give you results in around two to three months.
However, if you are impatient, you can opt for facial procedures such as chemical peels, laser, and/or microdermabrasion. Facial procedures do not perform miracles either because it also takes two to three sessions for you to get your desired results.
Post acne marks, or macules, are also commonly referred to as “acne scars”. Real acne scars, however, are the indentations or protrusions left behind by acne. Acne marks, on the other hand, are the flat red or brown dots left behind by pimples.
Other dark spots and types of hyperpigmentation can come from aging, sun damage, and even using birth control pills.
Most of the time, acne marks will go away on their own. However, sometimes it can take anywhere from six months to many years for them to lighten completely. Sometimes they may even stick around for the rest of your life! Other forms of hyperpigmentation (ones from aging, allergies, etc) don't fade on their own and may even get darker as time goes on.
To treat these red marks and pigmentation issues, consider the following options:
1) Sunscreen
Wearing sunscreen is essential, whether or not you are trying to fade any marks. Sunscreen protects your skin and will prevent cancerous lesions. However, if you want to help speed up the fading of your hyperpigmentation, then it is extra important to use sunscreen consistently because it will prevent macules and other dark spots from darkening even more.
2) Exfoliation
Exfoliating helps fade your marks faster by shedding old skin and bringing newer skin to the surface. There are lots of options for exfoliation; you could use scrubs and washcloths, but I think chemical exfoliation will give you your desired results a bit quicker (and maybe with less irritation as well).
To get rid of red acne marks or hyperpigmentation, you can consider using prescription retinoids, can try over-the-counter products with AHAs as the active ingredient.
However, be aware that these types of topical products can also cause irritation such as redness, peeling, and dryness.
3) Skin Lighteners
Aside from exfoliating to help the skin renew itself faster, you can attack your spots with skin lighteners such as kojic acid, licorice extract, arbutin, mulberry extract, or vitamin C.
Hydroquinone is also a skin lightener
Many Asian products target lightening and whitening of the skin. However, before purchasing any of them, make sure you check the ingredients to see if there are effective skin lighteners in the product.
Some people also say to apply vitamin E (either a vitamin E product, 100% vitamin E oil, or vitamin E poked from a gel capsule) but in my experience, vitamin E is very irritating on its own.
The thing about exfoliating or using topical products is that even though they shorten the amount of time it takes to fade red marks, it still takes time for them to work. Consistent use will give you results in around two to three months.
However, if you are impatient, you can opt for facial procedures such as chemical peels, laser, and/or microdermabrasion. Facial procedures do not perform miracles either because it also takes two to three sessions for you to get your desired results.
If you want a quick fix, a good concealer will do the
trick!
Thursday, August 12, 2010
WHAT ARE PEELS?HOW ARE THEY USEFUL?
A chemical peel is a body treatment technique used to improve and smooth the texture of the facial skin using a chemical solution that causes the dead skin to slough off and eventually peel off. The regenerated skin is usually smoother and less wrinkled than the old skinThere are several types of chemical peels.
Alpha hydroxy acid peels
Alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) are naturally occurring organic carboxylic acids such as glycolic acid, a natural constituent of sugar cane juice and lactic acid, found in sour milk and tomato juice. This is the mildest of the peel formulas and produces light peels for treatment of fine wrinkles, areas of dryness, uneven pigmentation and acne. Alpha hydroxy acids can also be mixed with a facial wash or cream in lesser concentrations as part of a daily skin-care regimen to improve the skin's texture.
There are five main fruit acids: citric acids (citrus-derived), glycolic (derived from sugar cane), lactic acid (although derived from milk, this is still considered a "fruit acid"), malic (derived from apples) and tartaric (derived from grapes)
Alpha hydroxy acid peels
Alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) are naturally occurring organic carboxylic acids such as glycolic acid, a natural constituent of sugar cane juice and lactic acid, found in sour milk and tomato juice. This is the mildest of the peel formulas and produces light peels for treatment of fine wrinkles, areas of dryness, uneven pigmentation and acne. Alpha hydroxy acids can also be mixed with a facial wash or cream in lesser concentrations as part of a daily skin-care regimen to improve the skin's texture.
There are five main fruit acids: citric acids (citrus-derived), glycolic (derived from sugar cane), lactic acid (although derived from milk, this is still considered a "fruit acid"), malic (derived from apples) and tartaric (derived from grapes)
AHA peels are used to:
reduce fine wrinkling
treat areas of dryness
reduce uneven pigmentation
aid in the control of acne
smooth rough dry skin
improve the texture of sun-damaged skin
AHA peels may:
cause stinging
cause skin redness
cause mild skin irritation
cause dryness
take multiple treatments for desired results
Beta hydroxy acid peels
It is becoming common for beta hydroxy acid (BHA) peels to be used instead of the stronger alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) peels due to BHA's ability to get deeper into the pore than AHA. BHA peels control oil, acne as well as remove dead skin cells to a certain extent better than AHAs due to AHAs only working on the surface of the skin.
Salicylic acid (from the Latin Salix meaning: willow tree) is a biosynthesized, organic, beta hydroxy acid that is often used.
Trichloroacetic acid peels
Trichloroacetic acid (TCA) is used as an intermediate to deep peeling agent in concentrations ranging from 20-50%. Depth of penetration is increased as concentration increases.
Trichloroacetic acid peels:
are preferred for darker-skinned patients over Phenol
smooth out fine surface wrinkles
remove superficial blemishes
correct skin pigment problems
Trichloroacetic acid peels may:
require pre-treatment with Retin-A or AHA creams
require repeat treatment to maintain results
require the use of sunblock for several months (this is a must)
take several days to heal depending on the peel depth
These are the common peels used in the dermatology practice.There are also other peels like phenol peels,Retinol peels,Jessners' peels which are less commonly used.
IS BOTOX SAFE?
Cosmetic Use
Using Botox to paralyze the facial muscles thus rendering them unable to move is a common practice by dermatologists and other doctors to achieve aesthetic goals. The point is to prevent the formation of wrinkles and creases by blocking the movement of the muscles. Not all areas of the face can be injected with Botox in consideration of appearing natural. The effects actually lasts for about three to eight months and the patient can go back for another batch of injections if he or she wishes. There is no immunity to the effects so one can go back as often as one wants. Safety concerns are brushed aside by those who use this product since the toxin is processed and applied in very small doses
Using Botox to paralyze the facial muscles thus rendering them unable to move is a common practice by dermatologists and other doctors to achieve aesthetic goals. The point is to prevent the formation of wrinkles and creases by blocking the movement of the muscles. Not all areas of the face can be injected with Botox in consideration of appearing natural. The effects actually lasts for about three to eight months and the patient can go back for another batch of injections if he or she wishes. There is no immunity to the effects so one can go back as often as one wants. Safety concerns are brushed aside by those who use this product since the toxin is processed and applied in very small doses
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