Melasma is a skin condition characterized by dark patches in the skin. The patches might be brown, gray, or tan.This skin condition mostly affects the face including areas of the upper lips, the nose bridge, the chin, and the cheeks. Melasma can also be found on the neck and forearms There are a lot of treatments available in Singapore for melasma including lasers and questions such as “can laser worsen melasma (https://harmonyaesthetics.sg/pigmentation/dr-angela-hwee-are-lasers-worsening-your-melasma/) or “what is the most effective treatment for melasma” are quite commonly asked. To understand more about melasma and treatment options in Singapore, read on further.
Melasma does not do physical harm such as itchiness or pain nor affects any bodily processes, but the dark skin patches are visibly unappealing, resulting in self-consciousness. Risk of development of melasma will depend on a person’s genetics, type of skin color, hormones and their level of sun exposure. Pregnant women are commonly prone to developing melasma. In Singapore, melasma primarily affects ladies of Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Hispanic, and African-American descent in Singapore.
Melasma can come in three types according to the level of pigmentation:
- Epidermal-has a dark brown color, a well-defined border, is visible under black light, and sometimes responds favorably to treatment.
- Dermal-a pale brown or bluish hue with an ambiguous border that looks the same in black light and is resistant to treatment.
- Mixed-is the most prevalent, with bluish and brown patches that appear in a mixed pattern under black light and respond to treatment.
Melasma is unfortunately not curable or preventable, but its effects can be lessened or managed so that the dark patches will not be that visible. Of course, before any treatments, a diagnosis of melasma shall be done first-by a dermatologist. Diagnosis usually just consists of a visual exam, but there are some cases where more tests will be performed. One test performed is the Wood’s lamp examination which is a unique type of light that is held up to the affected skin that enables the doctor to look for bacterial and fungal diseases. It is also used to assess how many layers of skin the melasma affects. There are times when tests like a biopsy are performed to check for far more serious skin conditions.
Treatment for melasma in Singapore is commonly done as a combined treatment approach for optimal results.
- Hydroquinone
Hydroquinone lightens skin and is available as a lotion, gel, or cream which is directly applied to the dark/uneven skin patches For melasma, this is the first course of treatment and requires a prescription. It should be considered however that Hydroquinone may not work for some people and suitability of the product requires doctor’s determination.
- Tretinoin and corticosteroid
An anti-inflammatory and retinoid are combined in this mixture to help balance out skin tone.
- Combined creams
Dermatologists occasionally decide to recommend combo cream products that might include tretinoin, corticosteroids, and hydroquinone all in one often termed as triple creams.
- Microdermabrasion
One non-invasive cosmetic procedure is microdermabrasion. With a wand, a dermatologist gently exfoliates the skin’s surface by spraying or rubbing small crystals onto the skin, therefore eliminating the outermost layer to treat melasma.
- Chemical Peel
Chemical peels are cosmetic treatments in which the skin is exfoliated using acids to reduce the excess pigmentation caused by melasma.
- Laser treatment
When conventional methods—such as lightening creams—have failed to provide the desired effects, those looking for quick and long-lasting results typically consider laser therapy. Laser therapy however, requires thorough planning and proper consideration from the doctor before it can be used as treatment for melasma. There are a few cases where laser treatments worsen melasma instead of the opposite because of using an inappropriate laser.
Things to consider is the type of laser to use and the skin color type of the patient. There is a wide range of laser treatments available in Singapore and lasers can come as aggressive types or weak types with differing applicability and effects. There are instances that not only 1 type of laser is used and treatments are composed of a series of treatments using different lasers to achieve the best results.
Laser treatments for melasma in Singapore are usually done at a 4- 6 week-interval. This longer interval is beneficial to maintain the effects of the treatment and also to prevent recurrence of melasma.
- Dermabrasion
Dermabrasion is an exfoliating method that typically involves the removal of the outer layers of skin from the face using a rotating tool. People who want to improve the appearance of their skin frequently get this therapy. It is effective in treating a number of conditions, such as uneven texture, sun damage, fine wrinkles, acne scars and melasma.
- Microneedling
During microneedling, small, sterilized needles are used to puncture the skin. The idea of pricking the skin is to trigger the body to heal the damaged “pricked” skin. Natural healing of the skin is promoted which will lessen the discoloration caused by melasma. Collagen production will also increase to contribute to formation of healthy and even looking skin.
It is important to understand that for melasma, and perhaps for most health conditions, the ideal treatment is a case-to-case basis. Always seek proper medical intervention to get the treatment that suits your needs and will give the best results. To best manage melasma, regular maintenance is a must and you must follow doctor’s advice. Here are a few tips to manage melasma:
- Regular use of topical products such as serums that contain skin lightening ingredients.
- Use of products that are not hurting / damaging your skin. Use of products that cause redness, dryness and other adverse skin reactions should be discontinued as these effects can contribute to the worsening of melasma.
- Application of sunscreen especially during daytime even if indoors.
- Ensure adequate skin protection and care is practiced especially when doing activities with sun exposure.
- Regular visits to the doctor to monitor the status of melasma condition and receive treatment as soon as required.
- Read about melasma to get more tips and to understand more.
Harmony Aesthetics Clinic
1 Grange Road, #13-01
Orchard Building,
Singapore 239693
Phone: 6970 5418
Whatsapp: 8822 3089
