Melasma, aka chloasma, occurs in women. Particularly women who are on the oral combined contraceptive pill, or who are pregnant. That's when blood oestrogen levels are high, which in some women makes their facial skin especially sensitive to sunlight. When such women are exposed to sunlight they develop pigmentation in a fairly characteristic distribution over the forehead, brow, cheeks and upper lip. The appearance is like a coffee stain on the skin.

Such women need to consider stopping the oral contraceptive pill. If they are pregnant then the melasma should improve once the pregnancy is over, but sometimes may not. Either way, sun exposure must be strictly minimised and a reflective UVA sunscreen should be used religiously.

Lightening creams will reduce the level of unwanted pigmentation, but some cases prove resistant, in which case further assessment is needed to determine whether the melasma is in the superficial epidermis or the deeper dermis.

Superficial melasma can be treated with IPL or light peels, but deep melasma responds best to a Q-switched laser. We don't have one of these highly specialised lasers at Peach Cosmetic Medicine, but refer such patients to our known and trusted colleagues at other practices, where Q-switched lasers are available.

Come along for a consultation and we will assess your melasma level and treat or refer depending on you requirements.