How to remove Melasma in Chiangmai

Melasma, a form of hyperpigmentation that occurs primarily in women, can be particularly tricky to treat for a myriad of reasons — most notably, because it is triggered and exacerbated by hormonal changes and UV exposure. The hormonal component to melasma is what sets it apart from other forms of hyperpigmentation, although the primary symptoms of both general hyperpigmentation and melasma are often similar: Dark patches of skin discoloration.

There are four types of pigmentation patterns in melasma:

Epidermal melasma is identified by the presence of excess melanin in the superficial layers of skin.
Dermal melasma is distinguished by the presence of melanophages (cells that ingest melanin) throughout the dermis.
Mixed melasma includes both the epidermal and dermal type.
Excess melanocytes are present in the skin of dark-skinned individuals.

Treatment of melasma is very challenging and even with excellent results from a treatment, the pigment of melasma can and very often does recur. If melasma develops after starting a hormone pill, it is recommended that the pill be stopped and all similar hormonal pills be avoided in future; however, it is the experience of many melasma sufferers that the discoloration persists even after stopping all hormones.

I like to refer to this treatment pyramid which shows the steps of treatment — the first and most important is sun protection, then topical products and chemical peels and lastly laser treatments. The pyramid is an important symbol — even if laser treatment is selected, the base treatments of the pyramid — sun protection and topical products — must be maintained.