Melasma is a common condition that is basically acquired increase in pigmentation occurring to exclusively sun-exposed areas.

The four main factors that exacerbate this condition manifested as a brown pigmentation are the exposure to sunlight, oral contraceptives, pregnancy and some anti-epilepsy drugs. The condition is rampant in women who have attained the child-bearing age with only a tenth of the cases reported in men.

Though melasma affects across the racial divide, it is common among the Latinos and the Asians. It shows most often than not as symmetrical facial patterns in the cheeks, nose, forehead, the chin and upper lip. It also occurs in forearms though very rarely.

There are certain measures that are recommended to prevent the development of melasma in the skin. Care should be taken to ensure that the steps of melasma treatment are adhered to properly, otherwise it may encourage the possibility of brushing with the condition in the future.

Since the main causes of melasma include over exposure of ultraviolet rays from the sun, hereditary genes, excessive production of melanchocytes, high concentration of estrogen and progesterone hormones in the blood stream, taking into account factor to reduce such causes is vital to reduction of the risk involved. The four conditions mentioned above do have detrimental effect on the health of the skin of adults. The four causes combined do affect the skin of the child and cause mealsma disorder even though each separate cause may not affect the child at the tender age.

There is an array of medical melasma treatments and other home-based remedies at our disposal to alleviate the skin disorder.

The use of sunscreen is the best way of reducing the risk and is known of alleviating melasma and other skin disorders effectively. A more effective way would be a threesome action of sunblocks, bleach and time. Research has demonstrated that alpha hydroxy acid,also refereed to as mandelic acid, has been observed to improve melasma conditions usually resistant to regular treatment. This type of melasma is known as derma melasma.

To make it better this acid is safe for the Asians and Latino skin hence making it a recommendable melasma treatment.

Sunscreen is something that cannot be overlooked in this case however. Without the use of opaque sunscreen on a dailly basis then treatment is more likely to fail. It is recommended that sunscreens with a broad-spectrum formulation with an SPF of over 30 should be used. In addition bleaching preparations should include creams or gels with a 2 or 4% of hydroquinone and a 3% hydroquinone solution.

Response is initiated after upto 2 months and the process may complete in a period of six months. The clearance of the epidermal melasma is usually examined through a Wood’s lamp test. When it has been observed to clear and is no longer apparent the hydroquinone and tretinoin application should be terminated. The opaque sunscreen should be continued nonetheless for at least one summer season to curb the risk of recurrence. It should be noted that dermal melasma do not respond to the above therapy and cannot be treated, not without the mandelic acid solutions.