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Shows Melasma on a patient -Blemishes, Pigmentation, and Melasma at Pure Dermatology

Blemishes, Pigmentation, and Melasma at Pure Dermatology

PureDerm Medical Dermatology Specialists

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. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, melasma is a pigmentation disorder that requires proper sun protection and long-term management. 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:

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.

African American Woman Applying Cream
Quotes

“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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