Melasma treatment is available at our clinic in Richmond Hill.
What Is Melasma?
Melasma is a condition in which irregular dark or tan spots appear on the skin of the face. Melasma is also called chloasma. This condition affects mostly women, but can also appear in men.
Causes of melasma
It is believed that melasma is caused by the female sex hormone estrogen which stimulates pigment-producing skin cells when exposed to sun. Melasma is common in pregnant women and those who are taking hormone contraception therapy.
Genetics also plays some role in appearance of melasma as it can be found more often in people of German, Russian and Jewish descent, as well as in Native Americans. It is also more common in people who have family members with melasma.
Does melasma cause any harm?
Melasma is purely a cosmetic problem and does not cause any other symptoms. The irregular patches of pigmented skin are most commonly located symmetrically on the upper cheeks, nose, lips, upper lip, and forehead.
The intensity of pigmentation is related to sun exposure. That is why melasma may get darker in the summer and a bit lighter in the winter months.
What makes it worse?
Some melasma pigmentation may resolve by itself after giving birth or stopping hormone contraception therapy. In other cases, pigment spots are quite stubborn and do not disappear.
Is there a treatment?
Melasma can be difficult to treat. There are few topical creams which might be used for melasma, but they often do not provide the desired results.
Thankfully, modern technology and science give us some highly effective treatment methods. Lasers are leading the way in the treatment of pigment lesions and can be very effective in improving the appearance of melasma.
The fractional laser and intense pulsed light technologies are the driving power behind our melasma treatment procedures. Pulses of laser light aim at dark pigment, destroying it and making it lighter. Healing time is minimal, infection risk is eliminated and little to no pain is felt.
In our clinic we use the state of the art system with fractional non-ablative head. This technology is the only modality that received FDA approval for skin resurfacing, which includes melasma.
| Before and After Photos of Melasma Treatment*,** | |
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before treatment
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after treatment
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| *Individual results may vary. **Images are courtesy of Palomar Medical |
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What to expect after treatment?
You may experience redness, warmth, swelling, or tightness of the treated area, which typically fades within a few hours of treatment. Generally, you can receive a treatment and go back to work without any recovery time. The spots will darken after treatment and are naturally shed from the skin within 1 to 2 weeks.
As sunlight is the main provoking factor for melasma, it is important to use creams with sun protection at all time. At our clinic we carry wide range of protective cosmeceuticals that will help to achieve best results.
How much will it cost?
The price of melasma treatment depends on the size of the affected area. To receive individual price information, please make an appointment with our staff.