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Blemishes, Pigmentation, and Melasma at Pure Dermatology
Pigmentation or blemishes are dark marks or spots that result from injury to the skin. They are often unsightly and difficult to cover with makeup. Also known as post-inflammatory hyper-pigmentation, pigmentation can occur after acne, burns, rashes, or eczema; as age spots; as familial pigmentation on the cheeks; under eye circles; and as melasma.
Age spots are unsightly blemishes that arise on the face, neck, chest and arms as people age. Also called lentigines or liver spots, they are sharply defined, rounded, brown or black, flat patches of skin that may appear alone or in clusters. These are often easy to treat and more information can be found about age spots here.
Melasma, also called chloasma or mask of pregnancy, is a common skin problem most often seen in women. It causes brown to gray-brown patches on the face. Most people get it on their cheeks, bridge of their nose, forehead, chin, and above their upper lip. Less commonly, it can appear on other sun-exposed parts of the body, such as the forearms and neck. It is much more common in women and much more common in skin of color. It can, however, present in men.
Common Melasma Triggers Include:
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Sun ExposureUltraviolet (UV) light from the sun stimulates the melanocytes, the skin cells that produce pigment. Melasma often presents or worsens in summer because of the increase in UV light exposure. Melasma often recurs because even a small dose of sun can make melasma come back after it is treated.
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Heat and indoor lightThere is new evidence to show that infrared light (IR) or heat may contribute to the development of melasma. Indoor lights in the visible spectrum may also have some influence on melasma. It is, therefore, very important for patients wanting to improve their pigmentation to have a sunscreen they love and to wear it EVERY DAY, even indoors.
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HormonesPregnant women often get melasma. Birth control pills and hormone replacement medicine may also trigger melasma.
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Cosmetics and Topical treatmentsSkin care products that irritate the skin may worsen melasma and can induce post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation in those with sensitive skin.
Melasma is not curable. It is a condition that dermatologists can often control and improve greatly, but not cure. Melasma requires constant maintenance, including proper sun protection and brightening regimens.
Melasma and Pigmentation Treatment at Pure Dermatology
Providers at Pure Dermatology selects medical grade skincare and prescriptions tailored to each patient. We offer many safe and effective treatments for pigmentation.
Treating pigmentation requires a partnership with the patient and a dedication to sun protection and to safe sun practices. A series of treatments is necessary for clearance, and maintenance treatment periodically is recommended. Strict sun protection and habitual skincare is critical to controlling melasma and pigmentation. Because heat and light may influence pigmentation, it is very important to our providers, Dr. Holcomb, Dr. Haseltine, and Cherie Albro, NP, that patients find the RIGHT sun protection to wear EVERY DAY.
“To help patients achieve healthy, clear skin through education and personalized care. To accentuate patients’ natural-born PURE beauty through efficient skincare and treatment.”
– Dr. Kate Zibilich Holcomb
We offer a variety of medical grade topical options for fading and eliminating brown spots and uneven pigmentation. These treatments provide additional benefits to improve the appearance and texture of your skin, such as softening wrinkles and tightening the skin, removing redness and broken blood vessels, hair removal, skin cancer and pre skin cancer treatments, and helping treat acne and rosacea. There are also prescription treatments for melasma like retinoids, hydroquinone, and tranexamic acid (a prescription pill for melasma) which we will discuss at your visit.
Laser treatments, chemical peels, and other procedures for melasma must be considered with caution and care. While many lasers immediately improve melasma, it is the long-term implications that matter. We select treatments very carefully with each patient to minimize the likelihood of worsening and have extensive experience treating all forms of skin discoloration.
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